home > Walt Disney World > Pictures > Tuesday, April 29, 2014

This page is to help you quickly jump through this picture set. Below you will see a listing of the pages and the captions on that page.

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    Arrived at the Magical Express check in area around 6:15am. It was really quiet as usual at this hour.
    No signs of other guests and only a couple of CMs.
    I cannot imagine waiting in this area when it is full. Luckily I have not had to experience that yet due to my flight times.
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    Walked onto a waiting bus. No one else joined us and we ended up with a private bus to WDW.
    Entered Disney property just before 6:45am.
    Making our way to the Animal Kingdom Lodge.
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    Passing by Jambo House (interesting note.. I had planned to spent some time there this trip but never made it there).
    Arriving at Kidani Village.
    As luck would have it our room was ready. So just after 7am we were in our room. Before the rest of my group took a nap and started to unpack their carry ons I took some pictures of the room. We had a two bedroom villa this time. Starting in bedroom with two queen beds.
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    A small desk in the corner.
    Through that door is the bathroom, closets, and walkway to the rest of the villa.
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    The bathroom for this bedroom.
    The selection of soap in the room.
    A closer look at the tile in the shower.
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    The toilet room was rather plain.
    One of two closets in the room.
    The other closet.
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    The area between the two bedrooms featured a bathroom, kitchen, dining area, and TV area. Here is the kitchen, more on it in a few pages.
    The other bedroom is the master bedroom and features a king size bed.
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    The master bath on the left and the door back to the center room of the villa on the right.
    One of the lights.
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    The masterbath
    The tilework.
    The closet. It featured the safe for the room. Also an ironing board and child seat, plus the pillows and blankets for the fold out couch.
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    Back to the middle room now. Here you can see the dining area, TV and chair. Also note the balcony outside ran the entire width of the three rooms.
    The kitchen area.
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    A look through the cabinets if you were curious what was inside.
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    On the kitchen table before I took it over to be my workstation.
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    The bathroom in the center room (this is just as you enter the main door).
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    Across from the bathroom a closet with the laundry machines and vacuum.
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    A quick look out the balcony. By this point I had pushed my groups patience and had to turn the rooms over to them so they could get some sleep.
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    We had a standard view so not that interesting.
    The shield on the door as I venture out.
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    It was about 10 to 8 when I started walking for the bus stop.
    Some Zebra out on the savanna.
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    The guest drop off area.
    Thought this was very helpful. At the bus stop an LCD screen with the time the next bus to that destination will be here.
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    Arrived at the Magic Kingdom at 8:45 (yes.. an hour from when I left the room. The bus ride was slow!).
    Arrived just as the opening event was going on.
    The steam train making its entrance.
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    Joined the masses entering the park.
    For those that are keeping track it was 8:53am as I crossed under the trail tracks.
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    Main Street was a hub of activity.
    A horse drawn trolley coming online.
    Noticed the trees in Town Square were rather small and had supports, guessing they were recently planted?
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    The scene as I made my way up Main Street.
    As you approach the hub you can see the work (well walls at least). This is the east side.
    And the west side.
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    The walls stretched around the hub area.
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    Mickey and Minnie topiaries and Cinderella Castle.
    The picture spots are now Nikon, just like Disneyland.
    Heading into Tomorrowland. Note there is no construction wall on the right.
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    Since there was no wall you could get a good view of the work. So far looks to be just some clearing going on.
    On both sides of the moat.
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    The old swan boat dock is gone. Just some grass and plants in the area now. The rose walk is still there and open.
    The seating inside Cosmic Rays is now enclosed and climate controlled.
    Looking back down Main Street from the Castle.
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    A closer look
    Making my way into Fantasyland with a lot of other guests. We were greeted with a wall of CMs directing us around the Carrousel.
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    A small army of cast members are needed to support the Fastpass+ and other new offerings. Here they are waiting for guests at one of the many kiosk locations around the park.
    Fairtale Hall was the destination of choice for most guests in the area.
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    At 9:07am the digital sign at the stand by for the Frozen sisters (Anna & Elsa) at 120 minutes already.
    The old fashion sign had it at 210 minutes a minute or so later.
    Here you can see the line of cast members trying to direct guests.
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    I was more interested in checking out the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. All the walls are down and you can see the entire attraction now.
    The entrance looks ready to go. At this point no official opening had been set, at a media event later in the week they announced it would be May 28th.
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    A look into the large queue for the attraction. Once the trees grow it may be nice, but for now I could only envision the misery of the Florida afternoons waiting in this line.
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    They did have fans scattered throughout it.
    Workers putting the finishing touches on things. You could smell fresh paint everywhere you walked.
    The entrance to the mine.
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    A look around.
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    Working on the interactive queue area.
    Looking back you can see how the walkway is all opened up now.
    Swapping out some trashcans.
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    No attempt to be clever on the warning signs.
    A large lift hill on the left and some track on the right. No trains running as I walked around.
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    Vultures from the original attraction.
    Some of the detail work was great. A look at the moss.
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    A closer look.
    Bus other details were not as good.. look at what appears to be the on ride photo system on the right. Hopefully this will be covered by opening.
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    In the background is the castle belonging to Prince Eric.
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    A better picture of the vultures.
    Temporary irrigation tubing running all over the place. Guessing for all the new plants to give them some extra water.
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    On the back side, opposite Storybook Circus was a stage for the media event/dedication later in the week.
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    A random speaker sticking up and no real attempt to make it blend in.
    A wider picture. You have this great light post then green speaker.
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    The work lights were on (notice them on the steps on the left).
    Closing in on the stage area.
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    No crowd at at Storybook Circus right now.
    A nice wide shot of the stage. Notice how small Cinderella Caslte looks on the left.
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    Looking toward the Little Mermaid
    Back at the stage.. with the Castle more in view now.
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    Some concrete work going on.
    Where the mine train cars enter the mine to meet the dwarfs.
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    A very detailed building. Too bad its just a DVC kiosk.
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    The Little Mermaid attraction.
    Continuing my walk around the Mine Train.
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    Approaching Belles Village.
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    Cinderella Castle in the distance.
    An almost empty village square.
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    Random trashcan picture for those that enjoy them (we do have a gallery of them too).
    Ahh.. the reason no trains were running. Looks like a walk through and punch list check was going on.
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    Attraction cast members doing something.. maybe training?
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    Made it back to the beginning.
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    Through the trees you could make out the cottage.
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    A closer look at the start of the lift.
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    Since nothing was going on I moved on. Fastpass+ for the Mad Tea Party.
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    Some special treats at the Cafe
    Cosmic Rays
    Back to the hub.
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    A family of ducks swimming by.
    Walked through the Rose Walk.
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    Back to Mickey and Minnie.
    A look at the construction walls around the hub.
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    Where the line board used to be.
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    The outdoor seating area for Caseys has been redone since my last visit in December.
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    The inside of Caseys has also been redone. The bleachers and large TV are gone.
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    Spring Break merchandise still available (by the end of the trip these were summer vacation shirts).
    MagicBands have taken over a good portion of the retail space around the property. Here is the display in the Emporium.
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    Caught the Main Street Trolley show as it rolled into Town Square.
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    Some curb work going on.
    A line for the Fastpass+ kiosk in Tomorrowland.
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    Went for a ride on the PeopleMover.
    Progress City.
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    Walked by Storybook Circus as Wowzer was performing.
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    A wide shot looking back at Cinderella Castle from near the restrooms.
    Still no activity at the Mine.
    Lunch today was at Be Our Guest. Noticed they were passing out umbrellas to those in the standby line (we had Fastpass+ reservations)
  • Page Number: 85
    Water available for those in line.
    Since I took a lot of pictures in December I will only post a few this time. If you want to see a more in depth look at Be Our Guest go see my December picture set.
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    Waiting for the next guest to order.
    Looking back at the check out area.
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    The West Wing
    The main ballroom, this was taken from near my seat.
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    The Masters Cupcake
    This roast beef sandwich replaced my steak sandwich. So I skipped eating here since nothing else looked interesting to me.
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    It seemed everywhere I turned there were large numbers of strollers parked. It seemed much worse/larger number than I see at Disneyland.
    This still bothers me having to walk through the smoking area if you want to visit the wishing well or get back and forth. Seems like there could be a more out of the way place for smokers then along a main walkway.
    I ended up grabbing a hot dog from Cosmic Rays. They were still served in the larger/fresh bun. (Note the last day I revisited and they served a regular boring bun).
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    The food carts have been relocated off the hub during the construction.
    Somehow timed it to walk by when the Street Party was coming by.
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    Not a very big crowd for this showing.
    Making my way to Liberty Square.
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    Looking toward Frontierland.
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    No real visible progress on the old restroom area by Peter Pan.
    More strollers.. this time by the Tangled Restroom. (think they were from mostly Small World and maybe Peter Pan)
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    Did you know MagicBands were on the Frontier?
    Stopped and defeated some villains with Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom.
    Some work going on in Adventureland.
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    More Adventureland work.
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    Was going to give Pirates a try...
    But it was down.
    Tortuga Tavern was open though.
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    The menu.
    As was the Pirates Adventure. Looked like very few guests were playing today.
    Golden Oak was closed.
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    Took the train to Storybook Circus from Frontierland.
    For you hidden Mickey fans.. does the smoke count in this shot?
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    Space Mountain is just as dirty here as Anaheim.
    Along the back wall in the Tomorrowland Power Co there was a power strip you could use to charge your devices.
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    By the door another charging station, where you do not have to stand there while your phone charged.
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    These chargers were free to use and your credit card was your key. Surprised its not a MagicBand.
    Of course a large MagicBand display too.
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    Next stop the Carrousel of Progress which just celebrated its 50th Anniversary since opening at the New York Worlds Fair on April 22, 1964.
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    FastPass+ signage has replaced all the regular FastPass signage around the parks.
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    An area in the hub being roped off for FastPass+ viewing for the Festival of Fantasy Parade. I had a reservation, but opted not to use it in favor of two other viewing locations.
    Recently the castle has had some repainting done.
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    Made my way to Frontierland to watch the parade.
    The Country Bears.. no time to visit now though.
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    This wraps up part I of the update. Part II will feature the Festival of Fantasy Parade.

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