Bornieo goes to Disney World - The Official Trip Report

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

Day 6 - EPCOT

The day began at EPCOT and it was so amazing seeing the giant Spaceship Earth peaking over the horizon. Unlike the other parks it was pleasant to see that the main icon of the park was at the front and since it wasn’t open due to the referb, I sadly missed seeing all that was inside the spheres. I just can’t imagine what fits inside but hopefully one day I will see it. The future world area was all that I’d hoped it would be. My absolute favorite aspect of this area is the walkways - it seems so "80's" but I just really loved the stilted walkways above the water and how everything was just so open.


Aww, welcome!!

My first attempt at attractions at EPCOT was Test Track and as I figured there was a long wait time and oddly enough the Fastpass’ were already gone - so I made use of the Single Rider line, which went pretty fast. I got placed up front of the car and I was off. Having no experience to compare this too, since I’ve never ridden the previous attraction that was there - I thought it was very educational and interesting and had a nice little thrill to it. It wasn’t a massively wonderful experience but I was satisfied with what happens.


Test Track!

Next, I wandered over to Mexico and began working my way around the large mass of water. It was a beautiful sight to see all the "countries" surrounding the lake. Earlier I had purchased my EPCOT Passport to have stamped at the different countries - which was pretty cool - but I missed Morocco and Japan, so I’ll have to get those two next time.
In Norway I rode Maelstrom, which was a bit of a disappointment in that it was so very short, a slight slide, I won’t even call a drop, and a bunch on the history of Norway - which is fine, but I was surely expecting more of a thrill from what I gathered from the descriptions. After the exit of the ride, I knew I was in for an eyeful of "Education" when the little theater contained a large group of Senior citizens and Me. Seemed like everyone else had made for the exit. But it was a beautiful film about the country and I was glad I saw it.

Food & Wine!

My first experience with the Food and Wine Festival, which was limited this day, was at the Ireland exhibit - I got a very butter/ greasy Potato Pancake and a small cup of Baileys frozen Irish Coffee topped with whipped cream. The Potato Pancake was greasy with a small cube of butter on top. The Baileys was very YUM! But a bit pricey ($7) for just a small plastic cup. As I ate, I got a message from Louis (DLRP_bopazot) that the shuttle was launched from the nearby Cape Canaveral and I looked toward the sky and only caught the cloud that still hung in the air from the launch. I was so sorry I missed seeing it go up.



Next I breezed thru the other countries and made my way to the American Adventure, which I had heard so much about. Animatronics walking up stairs etc. and I was very eager to see this show. The building was just glorious and the whole rotunda waiting area was just stunning. The paintings on the walls from the likes of Herb Ryman -a Disney Imagineer were just beautiful and the exhibit "National Treasures" contained artifacts like Lincoln’s Hat and items from the Space Program. The main show was just a glorious celebration of the American History and it was all that I had hoped for. I’m not a hand over your heart patriot at all really, but it was very touching and the seeing the various animatronics was awesome.


Me and the American Adventure!

The Rotunda

On the way out I had a real odd moment - some dude was walking out with the crowd, came walking next to me and asked me if I liked pictures. The guy reeked of creepy and I could swear I saw him on To Catch a Predator - because he says something like "I"m Joe Bob from Tennessee. Can I take your picture?" and then without waiting for a response, he takes his disposable camera and shoots a flash picture of me. Then starts blabbering on about liking to take pictures and was asking me where I was from with a strong southern accent. It was very weird and I "lost" him when I went to get my Passport stamped.

I skipped thru Japan and Morocco and headed to France where I knew Louis was working Impressions de France. Nearby I spotted Sleeping Beauty standing around, so walked over and got a picture with her. If you notice the low angle of the picture - her "handler" was a midget.



I didn’t spot Louis, so I went into the pre-show, which was filled with many photo’s of France and then into the theater where the host for the show was Louis! He gave his spiel and the it was time for the ½ circle vision presentation. Such a beautiful show and at the end Louis came out and told us all to get out. I congratulated him on his performance and we walked out together. Lucky a passer-bye’r was nice enough to snap a picture of us - then I got to witness his work in the preshow area.

There’s Louis!


Me and Louis!

It was now time for Lunch and I went to Chefs de France to check out the menu. It was pretty easy for a party of 1 to get a seat and I got a nice table right by the window where you could see the pavilion and the waterway. I ordered for what amounted to a toasted Ham & Cheese sandwich, with a salad and bread. Keeping with the atmosphere I chose the "recommended" wine, which name I could not remember and it was a nice peaceful meal truly filled with French atmosphere. The waiter, accent and all, introduced himself and told a small bit about his hometown in France, somewhere along the boarder in the mountains, if I recall correctly. Lunch ended with an very, very tasty Creme Brulee that was just unbelievably perfect.



I want one of these!!

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

Time marched on as I moved quickly thru the UK and to Canada, which is the only place I’ve actually been too (Besides "America") that is in the pavilions. Just a beautiful area and I went to see the circle-vision 360 "O’ Canada" and to get my book stamped. The show was pretty funny if you can stand Martin Short. He’s funny, but can cross that annoying line quite a bit. It was so wonderful to see circle-vison again. If I can say I was disappointed in anything was there should be more of the area I’ve been too before, Calgary, Alberta and the Banf National Forest - which saw little in the movie. So more of that - less Martin Short.

Canada!

I had time now to explore more of Future World in the Imagination area. I skipped HISTA for all the obvious reasons and went on the Figment ride. I need to find a YouTube of the previous version because this was just annoying. Yes Figment is a cute character but this was just a bit too much. Sadly, the walk around wasn’t around because I really wanted my picture with Figment.

The Land is next, having skipped over the area with Body Wars and the such which was being used for the Food and Wine Festival. I skipped Sorin’ for the obvious reasons, but when/ if I go back I would like to see the que at least - from what I hear. I too the trip on the boat "Living with the Land" which was really informative/ boring but was a bit disappointed when there were no singing vegetables. Yes, I had seen pictures and I guess they were taken out for the Sorrin’ entrance. I wanted to see the singing Fruit’s and Vegetables. Oh well.

The whole make up of the Land was interesting and different. It was like a giant food court with a few rides off to the side. It was just a bit bizarre.

Imagination!

Test Track - Love the walkways over the water.!!

The Sea’s with Nemo was the next place I went and I wish I had taken more time to explore the tanks and such but I took the Nemo Clam ride which is pretty much everything that’s in The Subs here in California. There are some differences but basically the same. Naturally the clams are less problematic than the subs - one is not cramped into a sub, nor do they have to wait 2 hours.

Having some more time to kill, I swung back over to Mexico and took the Grand Fiesta Tour. It was a cute little boat ride, very much It’s a Small World but with all Mexico. I always like the Three Caballeros and I was hoping the walk arounds would be there, but nope. It was a nice integration of the film and the sets. ‘

I then skipped over to China and caught the other Circle-Vison Reflections of China, which, again, was such a thrill to see Circle-vision again and such beauty all around the theater. Just spectacular.


My time at EPCOT was coming to an end since I had tickets for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween that evening, so I slowly exited but not before taking some time to admire Spaceship Earth. and the fountains.



Me!

On the way out I found the dedication plaque which was dated October 24, 1982 - which was cool since the day I was there was October 23, 2007 - almost 25 years to the date.

Next - An evening at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party!!

[lashbear]

Love it !! Keep going !!!

...Wasn't the angler fish on the robotic arm great?

I nearly fell over during O Canada! (not used to CircleVision, I guess). Were the "Victorian Gardens" at the Canada exit in full bloom??

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

Yes, the Angler fish was very well done. It get's a better reaction then the Submarine version.

Honestly I know nothing about being in Bloom, so I can't say they were - they might be - but the garden and "Canada" as a whole were beautiful.

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

Day 5 - Con’t
Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party

After leaving EPCOT I took the Monorail over to the Transportation Plaza and grabbed the Ferry Boat over to the Magic Kingdom.

Ferryboat Dock

Ferryboat

Coming up on the Magic Kingdom

The Polynesian Resort

What a beautiful ride as the sun was setting behind the clouds. Great view of the Polynesian Resort, the Contemporary and the Other fancy one who’s name I can’t recall. But it was nice approaching the Magic Kingdom - seeing it get bigger and bigger.

Lion King Clouds

I didn’t take a lot of pictures that night for several reasons we’ll go over further down. First off, when I got there I got my map, my bag for candy and some mouse ears. Some of the MC folks had planed to dress like Mouseketeers and I can’t pass up that opportunity. So I met them all in the Hub and then changed into my MMC shirt, which I didn’t get pictures of me in. I then met up with the group again in Frontierland’s Peco’s Bill Tavern where I regretfully ordered the Taco Salad. The worst meal I had on the trip and to top that off, while I was in line I could see the "cooks" opening "Bag o Meat" and dumping the content into a warmer. Very appealing and why I will stick with sit down restaurants.

The group with me in tow ransacked several candy depots and filled out bags with goodies and then went for a quick ride on Pirates of the Caribbean and Splash Mtn. We were briefly stalled in Adventureland because of the first Halloween parade. We then sailed around to Toon Town Fair and collected some more candy before rushing to the Tomorrowland Terrace Noodle Station to view the special Hallowishes fireworks. Sadly this was a bit of a bad choice because of 1 disgruntled employee who was screaming at people who were "moving" the chairs in the noodle station to get a better view and 2nd was it just wasn’t a good place to watch the fireworks but I got to see them anyway and they were extraordinary. Haunting music and fireworks firing in every direction, shape and size - just an assault on the senses and just a purely amazing display. (There is some video up on my Myspace)

The next parade time was approaching, so we gathered in front of the castle. The view changed drastically when the asshats who were siting in front of the group decided to stand blocking a lot of the view. Morons.
The parade began in the best possible fashion with the Headless Horseman galloping down the parade route. The parade was just a joy with floats (apparently) taken for various old parades and featured just about everyone in costume and a soundtrack that just sits in your mind and replays at any time. It was very catchy. Here are a few pics that came out...

Beware of Hitchhiking Ghosts!

Gravedigger dude!

Haunted Mansion Gravedigger troop

And the parade went on FOREVER! It was float after float afer float - just an amazing parade. After it eventually ended, the group headed out to get more candy, ending up in the Alice in Wonderland path where Tweedle Dee and Dum were passing out candy - that was cool because the CM’s were all dressed like cards. The path ended in Tomorrowland where everyone said goodnight but I wasn’t ready to leave quite yet so the last remaining few made way to the Haunted Mansion. While in line the heavens opened up and it was a downpour!

Raining like Hell at the Haunted Mansion

But, with some luck we were under the covering and by the time we got out of the ride, the rain had stopped. Just outside the exit were CM’s handing out the last bit of candy before midnight hit. Actually more like taking large handfuls of left over candy and dumping them in our bags.

All in all, Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween is a billion times better than anything in California. Having gone to the DCA version where its basically trick or treat time, I can say that the Florida party is so very much worth the extra money and there was tons I didn’t get to see like a Villain’s stage show and meet and great. I know if I ever do go back, going with the group really slowed things down and I missed quite a bit. No offence to those who were there but I really would have rather been exploring on my own - seeing the things I wanted. But, the Mouseketeer outfit was awesome (That was Rixter, a real nice guy - who I know lurks on LoT! HI!) And it was kinda nice to see people I knew as it sort of made thing more "real."

Next up - Day 7 and Universal Studios, IOA and a night trip to Animal Kingdom!

[Nephythys]

I believe the hotel you can't recall the name of- the large white one- is the Grand Floridian. Very victorian- Rose and I were there several times when we were at WDW. Rose had a tea party there with Alice and the Mad Hatter and we also had a tea party with Princess Aurora.

I love your report-can't wait for more!

[Chernabog]

Wooo I love reading your TR Bornieo, you got some REALLY good shots there!! Hey did you ever do Mission : Space? I didn't see it in your report and was wondering what your opinion was.

[Matterhorn Fan]

I'm glad you didn't skip El Rio del Tiempo Gran Fiesta Tour. You skipped right over Mexico there and I thought, "he'd better have gone back to Mexico!"

I love Donald, and I think they did a great job with that one.

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

Thanks for the kind thoughts.

I didn't do Mission Space until day 9 - my opinion on that soon.

Yes, Grand Fiesta Tour was a nice fun ride. I'd rather have seen some animatronic figures in this but...

Day 7 coming up

[MouseWife]

I love your pictures!!! Thank you!!