-=> Quoting Bruce Metcalf to All <=-
 BM> Thanks to getting ourselves way overextended yesterday, we slept in til
 BM> 10 and pretty much blew any chance of taking in any of the most popular
 BM> attractions. So shoot us, we were beat!
 BM> Arising thus at a leisurly hour, we repaired to the Coral Isle Cafe at
 BM> the Polynesian for our favorite breakfasts on the property: Tonga Toast
 BM> for me and the Shrimp and Cheese Omelette for Marta. I told CM Lois
 BM> that Tonga Toast was one of the biggest reasons I had for comming to
 BM> WDW. Thus warned, she reluctantly informed me that the recipe had
 BM> change in the past year.
 BM> "Bring me Tonga Toast, and if it isn't any good, I'll come back with my
 BM> friend Chernabog and tear up this place," I threatened! Lucky for her,
 BM> the "change" was to cut the toast thicker--I decided to let them live.
 BM> At the Magic Kingdom, Main Street looked more like May than January. We
 BM> fought our way into the 25th Anniversary Welcome Center, and were
 BM> rewarded with a good display of plans and models of new developments.
 BM> Marta was particulary interested in seeing the inside of Mickey's
 BM> Magical Workshop on the film. Nothing really new to report to the
 BM> careful readers of this echo, but the 3D model of the Animal Kingdom
 BM> (about 10-foot square) really helped shape my impression of the place.
 BM> We're already making plans to come back when it opens.
 BM> The WDW Railroad whisked us to Toontown Fair behind locomotive #1, the
 BM> "Walter E. Disney". We found it just as crowded as Main Street, so we
 BM> just wandered about a bit. In our wanderings we discovered something
 BM> that isn't even on Disney's maps yet: There is a new walkway connecting
 BM> from Toontown Fair (by the railroad station) to Tomorrowland (by the
 BM> video arcade and Space Mountain). Making its winding way between the
 BM> Autopia and the railroad tracks, it provides a surprisingly tranquil
 BM> interlude, seemingly far from the hordes of screaming children. All it
 BM> lacks is a couple of benches--I'm writing Disney to suggest it as soon
 BM> as we get home.
 BM> The "new new" Tomorrowland (or Yesterdayland, as some have called this
 BM> new incarnation) feels completely different. Partly, this is because
 BM> the main avenue running east from the hub has been almost completely
 BM> rebuilt (and narrowed) and the whole place has a new design motif that
 BM> is best described as "Buck Rogers Meets the Hall of Aluminum" (this is
 BM> a history test for you old Disneylanders). I think Ward Kimball and
 BM> Chuck Jones would love it, but Werner von Braun is probably turning
 BM> over in his grave.
 BM> Because the had no lines at all, we rode the Carousel of Progress,
 BM> Dreamflight (for what may be the last time, so report say),
 BM> Tomorrowland Transit Authority (nee Peoplemover), and finally The
 BM> Timekeeper. In a word, WOW! If the quality of Alien Encounter is worth
 BM> an hours wait when the Timekeeper is a walk-on, AE must be a trip
 BM> straight to nirvana. Mind you, we are big fans of Robin Williams, and
 BM> this attraction uses his zany style well, but it's a very good
 BM> attraction by any standard. By the same token, the Circlevision film is
 BM> nowhere near as good as any of its predecessors--including the early
 BM> 11-screen model (this is another history test). I suppose the problem
 BM> is that so few writers and directors have much experience in the
 BM> format. Nine Eyes could have been Three Eyes and done nearly as well.
 BM> For those who haven't heard, the Rivers of America are now home to
 BM> WDW's third sternwheeler. "Third?" you ask? Yes, the first was the
 BM> Admiral Joe Fowler. In 1973, the Richard F. Irvine was built and sharde
 BM> the load--until the good Admiral had his keel broken while being
 BM> hoisted into drydock some twelve years ago (this isn't a history
 BM> test--I don't remember exactly when). The boat we rode today was named
 BM> "Liberty Belle", and I quizzed the crew about old Dick.
 BM> "Well, the hull and engines of this boat *are* the Richard F. Irvine,
 BM> but the superstructure had about rotted through in twenty-five years of
 BM> daily service, so we replace just about everything above the
 BM> hull--using a lot of aluminum and vinyl this time--rechristened her,
 BM> and did a sex-change operation at the same time." I'm not sure Michael
 BM> would want his CM's to describe it that way, but truth is truth--even
 BM> among those who are not anatomically correct.
 BM> The narration on the boat has changed as well. The captain introduces a
 BM> young man as the pilot--taking his 100th trip down this river--as
 BM> Samuel Clemens. To avoid a paradox, the fort on Tom Sawer's Island has
 BM> been renamed from Fort Sam Clemens to Fort Cleghorn (?). I suspect
 BM> there are a lot of Guests of Honor having family arguments about this
 BM> even as I type.
 BM> I am pleased to report that contrary to the practice at Disneyland, the
 BM> Tropical Serenade at WDW is still at its full, original lenght. We were
 BM> alos pleased that nobody got nervy enough to walk out during our
 BM> performance. We felt just a little self-conscious being the only ones
 BM> joining in the singing, but I remember reading that Walt Disney always
 BM> sang at *every* performance he sat through with guests, so that must be
 BM> the way to have the most fun.  8;-)
 BM> I suppose you want to hear our opinions on the Great Ugly Castle
 BM> Debate. Weelllll... Marta likes it mostly, but thinks they should have
 BM> skipped the gumballs, as she hates to eat them. Me, I'm not sure of
 BM> anything except that I'm glad it will go away in a year. Because of the
 BM> crowds, we really couldn't get too close, so I'll try to get a better
 BM> look (and a nighttime view) before I commit myself.
 BM> Reaching our crowd limit, we embarked on a cruise to the Wilderness
 BM> Lodge for our first visit, arriving just in time to see Old Faithful
 BM> blow. Amazing place. Marta and I want to back a moving van up to the
 BM> lobby doors and refurnish our living room. At at Artist's Point--a
 BM> little pricy for regular fare, but the food was anything but regular.
 BM> We had the baked salmon and the crab pot and emerged stuffed--even
 BM> after taking CM Lois' suggestion to split a berry cobbler desert. Great
 BM> food, but bring your Visa card--you don't want to be carrying around
 BM> that much cash.
 BM> Returning to the Polynesian (and our car) by boats, we were treated to
 BM> Magic Kingdom fireworks while asail. The captain cut his engines where
 BM> we had a good view and waited for the finale before continuing the
 BM> trip. Classy move (or not-move, in this case).
 BM> Let me repeat the invitation to local EchoEars to contact us for a
 BM> get-together. Holiday Inn Maingate, 396-7300. And for those of you
 BM> shaking your heads and saying, "Why didn't thtose fools stay on the
 BM> property?" I can only say that with our employee discounts, we are
 BM> saving enough (compared to MKC rates at All Stars) to pay for our
 BM> annual passes, so there nyah! Nice place--even has data ports in the
 BM> telephones, but you need a 20-foot extension cord to reach fro the desk
 BM> to the nearest outlet and another 15-foot phone cord to reach the
 BM> phone. Oh well, at least they're trying.
 BM> More tomorrow if we don't fall asleep first.
 BM> ()_()
 BM>  (_)  Bruce (hopitality professional) Metcalf
 BM> -!-
 BM>  X OLX 2.1 TD X Sorcerers' parking only.  Violators will be toad.
 BM> -!- FLAME v1.1
 BM>  ! Origin: The Orlando Exchange * Casselberry, FL * 407/830-4340
 BM> (1:363/341)
Excellent commentary of the tour of this wonderful place i would love to 
visit it one fine day!!!
But being in Australia it will be a bit hard to raise the cash,but thanks to 
your lovely travelogue i
can Imagine it all in my head while reading the E-Mail.
Thank you very much from an Aussie Mate
Stay Happy
Col Griffiths
Australia
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... "Only Amiga makes it possible." - Commodore-Amiga, Inc.
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