Trip Log:

Started off the morning making a circle around the Riverside. We walked out by the main pool and the fishin hole and then through the lobby area before heading down to the French Quarter for breakfast. After eating we hopped a bus to the Magic Kingdom. There we strolled down Main Street and headed for Tomorrowland and Fastpasses for Buzz. Stopped to watch the castle show and then out to Frontierland to watch the Country Bears and then grabbed a snack at the Baked Potato place. After eating went for a spin on the Liberty Belle and then used our Fastpasses over at Buzz before heading out of the park. The Ferry Boat looked like a long wait so decided to take the bus to the Animal Kingdom Lodge and look around a bit before grabbing another bus for the Animal Kingdom. Once in the park I went out and grabbed Fastpasses for the Safari and then met up with the group in Dinoland for a late lunch. After lunch we walked around Dinoland and Everest and then headed out to the Jungle Trek to see the Tigers followed by a trip out to Pangani to see the Gorillas. After walking through I backtracked to Dinoland by way of the Asia bridge and went to watch the Finding Nemo Musical. After the show it was back to Africa by way of the trail by the Tree of Life and used my Fastpass for the Safari (even though it wasn't needed). Then I turned around again and grabbed a Hot Dog in Dinoland before wandering around the Tree of Life Garden and the Oasis before the park closed at 7pm. At park closing headed back to the bus stop and back to Riverside. Met up with the rest of my group and took the River cruise down to Downtown Disney. Walked around a bit and then took the bus back to the Riverside to call it a night.

Thoughts & Observations:

• I was really impressed with the new characters in the Dream Along with Mickey show. The Fab four characters now have moving mouths and eyes. The effect was great and really added to the show. Also new since I last saw the show in December the Captain Hook and Smee characters are face characters. I am guessing this was done so you do not have the drastic difference between them and the others that now move and seem much more lifelike. In the pictures you will see what I mean, but its definitely something that has to be seen in person to really experience.

• Timing is everything and up until this afternoon we were on a roll when it came to waiting for Disney transportation, I think the longest wait was around 5 minutes. This streak ended when we decided to head over to the Animal Kingdom Lodge in the afternoon from the Magic Kingdom. We waited approx 30 minutes for a bus (and there were people waiting when we arrived). There were very few busses coming or going during that wait, we think it was a shift change. A handful did pull in to other stops or along the curb and the drivers turned the bus off and left.

• During the performance of Nemo they were strictly enforcing the no photography rule (and this includes non flash, video camera, and cell phone). There were CMs going up and down the aisles most of the show talking to guests who pulled out cameras. I can understand it if your being disruptive but if you are using no lighting or flash it seems to me more disruptive to have these CMs moving quickly through the aisles. This is the first show I can remember seeing them that aggressive. Is this a new policy or was I just in a section with aggressive CMs.

• This was my second viewing of the Nemo show and I was still not engaged in it. As I mentioned in my December thoughts on the show I found the puppets and performers to be good but the problem is the music, it just does not engage me and draw me in or even entertain me that much. Especially when compared to a high energy show that I do enjoy such as the Lion King which I have seen several dozen times over the years. I still cannot put a finger on it either. I put this show on a similiar likability scale as the Snow White one at Disneyland a few years ago. Where as the Aladdin show at California Adventure or the Lion King Show at Animal Kingdom I can see over and over again and enjoy them. Maybe it just boils down to personal preference. All are high quality/production value shows but two click with me and two do not. Anyone else have a similiar impression or even a contradictory one to share? If so stop by the form...

• We took the boat from the Riverside down to Downtown Disney. This took quite a long ways and was not that interesting in the dark (I cannot remember the last time, or even if I have ever done this trip at night). During the daylight hours there is plenty to look at but at night there is not too much along the route that stands out. Add to that we had a driver who was having difficulties docking the boat. It took a good 5 minutes to tie up a the French Quarter dock (for those unfamiliar with the route, if you start at the Riverside the next stop is the French Quarter then Downtown Disney, then back to French Quarter before arriving back at the Riverside. We ended up taking the bus back and it was a very quick ride and its even the first bus stop at the Downtown Disney stops.
  
  

Pedometer Information for the day:

Enough with the text.. onto the pictures

Click Here