Mouse Extra

Changes to Disney World’s FastPass system have been spreading throughout the parks, as new machines and tickets are being installed at many popular attractions.  As more and more attractions get the upgrade, speculation is all over the board as to what these changes may mean to guests.  So far, Disney has been tight-lipped about the future of this very popular program.

When I was last at the Animal Kingdom, Expedition Everest was going through the process of upgrading its FastPass system.  Kilimanjaro Safaris already had it, and the new tickets sported a new barcode along the side and a much larger issue date then the older tickets.  Obviously the date is to prevent people from using expired passes, something regularly done and up to this point largely ignored by cast members.  But that can not be the only reason they are spending money on the system, as simply instructing CM’s to be more diligent could accomplish that and in some attractions that is already happening. 

I think before we start speculating on what these changes might be a little review of why Disney put FastPass into the parks in the first place is in order.  Yes, it was to keep people from spending the vast majority of their days in line, but not because Disney was being nice to their guests.  They invested all this time and cash to get people off the lines and into the shops and restaurants so they can spend more money.  From all accounts, this hasn’t happened to the extent the planners were hoping for.  So we can safely assume that any additional investment will be aimed towards the goal of making money on this program.

Lou Mongello has some interesting information on what the future holds for FastPass on his Disney World Trivia site.  Here’s what he is reporting…

Listener Holli emailed with rumors courtesy of the Cast Member guide on her Keys to the Kingdom tour. According to her guide, the changes to the Walt Disney World FastPass system are going to make it more like the Disneyland system, and that it will allow Guests to get a second FastPass for a different attraction as long as it is a different kind of ride or in a different part of the park. The system is supposedly undergoing testing at Epcot currently.

Well, this makes some sense, but why would new machines be needed to do this?  We already know the system can be manipulated to allow variations to FastPass, so putting in expensive new machines would at least appear to be for a more elaborate purpose than simply allowing multiple passes. 

But if the goal is to keep people off lines, and theoretically in shops and restaurants, it is possible that Disney has concluded the current system doesn’t go far enough to achieve that, and I would agree.  If you walk into Epcot at noon, and grab a FastPass for Soarin’, that pass may not be good until hours later, thus putting you in normal stand-by lines for everything else you may want to experience.  When this happens, the original intent is essentially lost, and most e-ticket rides during the busiest seasons have FastPass return times far enough out to make using it only truly an option on a few rides per day. 

The longest standing rumor is that Disney will eventually either charge for FastPass, much like Universal already does, or they will offer it as an added perk for staying on property.  Charging seems unlikely at this point, but using it as a perk makes a lot of sense for the Mouse.  The goal has always been to keep people on property, and offering this as an incentive would be a nice selling feature.  At the same time, however, the off-site guest may not find it such a good idea.  What do you think will happen?  Would you be willing to pay for a “Dream FastPass”?

Screamscape.com has an interesting rumor today regarding a long discussed update to Star Tours.  This particular rumor is unlike almost any other one you will find, because it is actually sourced…

The latest information however comes right out of the mouth of Anthony Daniels (C-3P0) himself. According to a Screamscape reader who attended the Adventure Con comic book convention in Knoxville last Saturday, someone from the crowd asked him if he had ridden Star Tours during the Q&A session. “He responded by saying yes and he just got finished filming the new digitalized upgrade for the ride. He said this update will start up around the end of the year and from what he has seen it looks very, very exciting.” That was all they could get out of him apparently. So there you have it, right from the mouth of 3-CP0 via the internet.

If this is absolutely correct, and that is a big if, then the famed Star Tours 2 will be here sooner rather than later.  The mistake most people seemed to be assuming is that if Daniels is correct than this is only a slight change, perhaps just an upgrade to the film technology.  I wouldn’t jump to that conclusion.  The great advantage of a simulator ride is that you can change the entire story of the ride by uploading the next film and reprogramming the movements of the simulator itself.  This would not take a year of down time to accomplish.

For those who think this most be wrong because we have no other information floating around confirming it, let me just remind you that George Lucas is perhaps the most secretive filmmaker around.  If he wants to shield this until the last minute, then that’s what will happen.

 Today’s Touring Tip is from Mike and Brooke, contributing writers to Mouse Extra.

Disney MGM Studios is the third park created for Walt Disney World. Its development stemmed from an initial idea of a movie - making pavilion for Epcot Center. Yet, in a rush to be completed before Universal Studios, this theme park was built with an odd mish-mosh of areas and no master planned traffic patterns. Since, there are significantly fewer attractions here than at the Magic Kingdom or Epcot Center, planning a day with a preschooler can produce a challenge.

But, that’s not to say there aren’t fun and exciting things for preschoolers to enjoy while visiting MGM. Muppetvision proves to be a favorite for kids. The beloved and entertaining muppets amuse both young and old with their zany antics in a humorous 3D movie that is not alarming to small children.

Young Narnia fans will want repeat visits to the walk through attraction MGM has designed based on the movie. Although, it is basically a movie trailer with an appearance by the White Witch, it is a nice air conditioned stop.

The Studios also offer various spots to meet favorite characters such as; Little Einsteins, JoJo, Buzz, Woody and the Power Rangers. A schedule can be found at the front of the park featuring times and venues for each character meet and greet. One of the best character meetings, though, was Sorcerer Mickey near the New York Streets area. There used to be an indoor set up just for Mickey where he can be found throughout the day. There was usually quite a line, but the cast members kept it moving at a decent pace. This has been moved to under the giant sorcerer hat in just the last few weeks.  Hopefully the experience is just as good as it used to be.

For Star Wars fans, the ultimate character spotting can be found by the Star Tours attraction. The various characters seen can include, Darth Vader escorted by his loyal Stormtroopers, Ewoks, Darth Maul and Queen Amidala. A real treat for the diehard fans would be to visit MGM during Star Wars weekends which are usually held during late May / early June. Star Tours itself is a fun motion simulator with a height restriction of 40 inches suitable for most preschoolers. At the end of the ride visitors are ushered into our son’s version of Shang-ri-la, a large Star Wars store complete with action figures, legos, clothing and the like. They sell little bags of Disney Star Wars figures as well as photos that superimpose the smallest or biggest fan into a scene and star of their favorite movie. The small kids can also entertain themselves by playing on the speeder bike that is located outside the attraction.

However, Tatooine Traders is not the only cool place to shop in MGM Studios. While expensive, young children may enjoy browsing the Animation Gallery, a shop devoted to selling animation cels from Disney’s classic animated movies. Near the Indiana Jones Stunt Show is a small shop dedicated to the movie. By the Muppetvision attraction, there is a store with various Muppet memorabilia, as well. In fact throughout the park, there are various kiosks selling merchandise and strategically placed by their corresponding characters. Souvenirs abound at the Studios and parents are certain to find something perfect for their littlest princess or prince.

For an entertaining dining experience, check out the Sci-Fi Dine in Theatre. The food itself is average, with the exception of their ice cream shakes, but preschoolers will delight in eating their meals in a convertible car while watching the giant movie screen play cheesy science fiction clips.

As for the bad, here are some drawbacks in touring this park with preschoolers. The Rock N Roller coaster requires a height of 48 inches, which leaves most preschoolers out of luck in riding. However, the even more foreboding Twilight Zone Tower of Terror has a minimum height restriction of merely 40 inches. And while this is well within the reach of most 4 - 6 year olds, parents must make the determination of whether their child is prepared. The huge drop is tough and the special effects inside can be unsettling to adults let alone young children. Having said that, many won’t want to attempt it once they hear the blood curdling screams plummeting through the air near this attraction. Our five year old son loved Splash Mountain but wanted to stay clear of this thrill ride.

Presently, MGM Studios does not boast a lot rides for kids, although the upcoming Toy Story attraction will help. There is the Great Movie Ride, which is a pleasant jaunt through the history of cinematic endeavors. The Backlot Tour can be rather dull for kids with the only possible highlight being catastrophe canyon. The same can be said for the new Lights Motor Action Stunt show, which bored these adults almost to tears. The arena holds a large crowd capacity making it difficult for preschoolers to get to and from their seats. Plus, more than half of the show is talking and explaining how each stunt is performed. Young children have a tough time sitting through a lecture instructing them on how the cars drove backwards. It would be a far better show if the stunt actors were not wired and just performed the particular stunts. And while definitely a park not to miss, MGM is geared more toward the older crowds or those interested for its educational purposes.

And the main reason not to skip out on this park is Fantasmic. This family’s vote for the best nighttime event in any park hands down. A word of advice is to take advantage of the dinner package. This ensures seats to the show and avoids the necessity of sitting in the ampitheatre for more than an hour prior to show time. A definite perk if visiting during peak seasons. The package must be reserved and there are three different restaurant choices available; The Brown Derby, a high priced eatery, Mama Melrose’s, an average Italian place with pizza, or the Hollywood and Vine, a buffet restaurant. The dinner package is fixed price with the buffet being the cheapest and the Brown Derby the most expensive. Guests may have to reserve a dinner seating at 4 pm since this option tends to be extremely popular, but diners do not have to go directly to Fantasmic upon the completion of their meals. When meeting at the assigned place and time, the visitors with the dinner package, may still have a small wait until the show, but small toys can help pass the time for the excited preschoolers. As soon as youngsters see sorcerer Mickey with fire pulsing through his fingertips, memories will be engraved forever.

To me, the House of Blues is what Downtown Disney is all about. Its a nightclub, music venue and themed eatery all wrapped into one. Plus, its got that great brand name, the Blues Brothers, behind it. I previously did a review of Boatwright’s at the Port Orleans resort wherein I criticized its “toned down” version of Creole cuisine. That’s not the case at the House of Blues. The food is very good and is complemented by its surroundings. After the Hard Rock Cafe opened years ago, we saw a plethora of themed chain restaurants like Planet Hollywood, the Rainforest Cafe, and the All Star Cafe. In my opinion, the House of Blues may very well be the best of the lot. Read the rest of this entry »

Today’s Building My Imagineering Resume is the third and final part to Mike’s sweeping plan to revolutionize Disney’s Animal Kingdom in the minds of theme park fanatics.  

Now lets get back to the Beastly Kingdomme. Many believe that ship has sailed and I don’t really disagree. Frankly, many of the imagineers who developed it high tailed it over to Universal and helped create the Islands of Adventure park. Still, I would love to see a land dedicated to mythical animals and Disney currently has a franchise chock full of them- Narnia. So, I propose a land called “Narnia” at the Animal Kingdom, between the Camp Minnie Mickey and Africa areas. The land would be centered around the White Witch’s Castle which would be home to a flume ride. The premise: you are fleeing the castle chased by scary minotaurs, knife wielding dwarves and talking wolves, among more of the witch’s minions. It all culminates in a big drop.

We can integrate other ideas left over from the Beastly Kingdomme, as well. The Unicorn Maze would fit nicely. There was also a heavily imagineered Mother Goose shop that can be easily tweaked to fit the area. I would also add attractions for the younger crowd. Perhaps a ride in the air on griffons. A play area with audio-animatronic animals like beavers and foxes would be well received. Their real-life counterparts could be exhibited nearby, as well.

The big loss from the defunct Beastly Kingdomme was the loss of Dragon Tower. The idea was a fascinating one wherein the guests are a group of knights recruited by talking bats into stealing an evil dragon’s treasure horde. The set up was pure old-school Disney. However, it does not exactly fit into Narnia although the talking bats seem right out of the series, don’t they? And I know a dragon pops up in the series. Perhaps, the best course would be to make the ride only accessible from a boat trip off of Discovery Island, thereby making it part of that “land.” I don’t know, but it sure sounds fun.

Now, I’m not saying Disney has to build all of this, but one of my proposed lands would go a long way. Two and we’re no longer talking about Disney’s Animal Kingdom being a half day park. Three of them and this park may be one of the best there is. It can certainly lead to a big night ending event, like the rumored lantern light parade, and will keep those turnstiles going all day.

As the end of Epcot’s Flower and Garden Festival approaches this weekend, I thought I would show you just a two more pictures of some of the best highlights from this year’s event. 

These two characters below are dancing behind Spaceship Earth, facing towards the fountain.  Cinderella and her man spin around endlessly, and are almost the most photographed topiary we found.

But if the dancers above are “almost” the most photographed at this year’s Flower and Garden Festival, this buccaneer below most surely top the list.  Not once did I go past Mickey in his pirate garb without seeing a group of people posing in front of him.

The Flower and Garden Festival is a nice event, and seeing Epcot dressed up like this is a fun change of pace for fans of the park.  But in all honesty, if I had to choose a festival to go and see, Food and Wine in the fall would be my choice.