Welcome to Escape From Tomorrow 2: Return to Tomorrow.
Okay, we won’t do that. No one liked Mulan II, The Little Mermaid 2, Cars 2, Tron 2, or The Muppets 2. We may be getting ahead of ourselves. Anyway, it’s around 6pm on Saturday January 26th.
Sleepy Hollow Refreshments is no longer covered with a brown plastic bag.
This looks to be one of those long structural refurbishments.
The far side of Columbia Harbour House is behind scrims too. The front was briefly covered for some painting and light work. Yankee Trader across the way was behind scrims for a couple months recently too.
Even more foliage is being added around the Rapunzel tower.
As one might expect, Magic Kingdom was busy on a non-recommended Saturday. Haunted Mansion is using the extended queue to funnel people inside.
So the Rapunzel bathrooms and electrical outlet houses are the cutest things ever. Larger: http://www.easywdw.com/reports7/bathroomsandelectricalhouses.jpg.
And with the tower in the background.
The final scene in “it’s a small world,” with “bye” translated into different languages, has recently been removed and replaced. It looks very similar now.
The area in and around New Fantasyland continues to be crowded. One word about heading to Enchanted Tales with Belle first thing in the morning: If you’re going to do it, you really need to haul it over there. That means going to the far left or right of the train station to be as close to the opening as possible and then briskly moving straight back to the attraction after the opening ceremony concludes. If you elect to stand in the middle of the area in front of the train station for the opening show or try to collect FASTPASSes for another far away attraction, you can forget about doing Enchanted Tales with a short wait in the morning. Enchanted Tales has an extremely limited capacity. Like a third of Toy Story Mania limited. If you’re not among the first people to arrive, I’d put it off until right around 10:15am or some point in the evening, ideally during the Electrical Parade or Wishes. With the 10:15am arrival, all the people that headed straight there at rope drop will have moved through already and fewer people arriving at 10am will be wise enough to go to Belle first thing.
More Mine Train progress over the last few days.
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh reopened on schedule. FASTPASSes are still distributed at Mickey’s PhilharMagic alongside Journey of the Little Mermaid and still print with a “Surprise FASTPASS” for Dumbo. The wait time for Pooh listed at the FASTPASS machines was 130 minutes, compared to 20 at the attraction itself. So there may still be some kinks.
Casey Jr. was just dripping a little bit. One of these poor kids was running around full speed, slipped, and went flying.
Per yesterday’s update, Dumbo is still disconnected from the FASTPASS system.
Wait times weren’t too nutty with the Electrical Parade starting in about a half hour. Tomorrowland Indy Speedway was still using the extended queue, but the posted wait was 30 minutes. Space Mountain was at 45 minutes, Buzz was at 30, Dumbo at 25, Barnstormer at 35, Journey of the Little Mermaid at 60, Enchanted Tales at 50, and Ariel’s Grotto at 25.
The crane is pulled down for Wishes, so you can bring some of your memories home with you intact. It’s scheduled to be on site through February 10th, when memories will resume full time.
Until MyMagic+ ruins our lives and shuts this website down, Peter Pan’s Flight FASTPASS return times continue to benefit from the addition of FASTPASS at Journey of the Little Mermaid and Barnstormer. Last year, FASTPASSes would have been long gone by this time. Here, they’re less than three hours out.
We’ll catch the Electrical Parade from in front of Hall of Presidents in Liberty Square:
Main Street Electrical Parade is so bizarre in my opinion. Not only because it’s straight out of a drug induced nightmare scene from a Stanley Kubrick film, but also because it’s going on 40 years old and audiences still seem to eat it up. Credit the creators, Bob Jani and Ron Miziker, for designing something that has seemingly saved Disney a whole lot of money by not having to invest in anything new.
Not advertised is the Wishes Ferry Boat View, which is actually a pretty relaxing way to enjoy the show. The back of the ferry is uncovered, so you have a pretty good view, even if the music isn’t piped in like the Polynesian Beach, Contemporary 4th floor observation deck, or the Ticket and Transportation Center.
One thing I did notice on the boat was “literally” thousands and thousands of bugs. Dilophus sayi if I had to guess. They’re harmless, but annoying.
In other exciting news, the top of the Grand Floridian DVC looks to be illuminated.
Just as a reminder, the Transportation and Ticket Center’s boat dock is a pretty good place to see Wishes outside the Park. And you have the added benefit of being a short distance from the parking lot.
The March Crowd Calendar was updated a couple of days ago with the changes listed last week. April is up next along with a walk around the Coronado Springs Resort.
{ 47 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for your site! I was there this week as well. Ran into huge huge tour groups (MK Monday, Epcot Tues). Are they still there next week too? Had a great time at MK on Wed/Fri and Hollywood studio on Thursday. The evenings at MK were packed on Sunday, Monday, Thursday. (we were staying at BLT and had park hopper). I thought January would be much much quieter overall. I thought your crowd calendar was really useful. Thanks again!
Hi Josh
Just got back from a week at Disney and had to share a story with you
My husband & I were getting ready to leave one morning when he decided we should follow the “plan for the day” that he had found on-line
What?? Really?? I have followed your advice for our last five trips and now we’re going to do something else?
I kept saying “but Josh says this….” or “Josh doesn’t recomend that park today”
We ended up doing the day his way – what a mess to put it nicely
The next morning the first thing he said was “What does Josh suggest today?”
Josh, you ARE the best!!
I am sure this has been asked thousands of times, but what lens and camera do you use for the night photos?
Great website and photos.
I am in the minority as i think the electrical parade is tacky and love spectromagic.
And boy I don’t know how people cope with those long queues, quiet times for me only.
Josh say “Main Street Electrical Parade is so bizarre in my opinion. Not only because it’s straight out of a drug induced nightmare scene from a Stanley Kubrick film, but also because it’s going on 40 years old and audiences still seem to eat it up. ”
We went to WDW this past Sept and made a point to see the Electric Parade as we’ve never seen it. It’s a cute parade but not anything I would go out of my way to see again. Didn’t strike me as anything special or a mist do. Definitely prefer spectromagic over that.
Ok, I have been to disney about 10 times, and I thought “electric parade” and “spectromagic” we’re the same thing. Granted, none of us like parades, but now I am really puzzled! Can someone clarify for me?
” Not only because it’s straight out of a drug induced nightmare scene from a Stanley Kubrick film,”
Are you sure you aren’t thinking of Spectromagic when they used to wear the V for Vendetta style masks before they figured out they were scaring the crap out of kids. Those were Clockwork Orange-esque.
Adrienne-
Spectro is much more in line with what a Cirque du Soleil night parade would be. I like Spectro a lot more than MSEP.
I grew up with MSEP at Disneyland so I’m used to it (and enjoy it when I see it), but I’m not a parade person anyway – I might see a parade once but then later just go on rides while it’s on. Anyone know when Spectromagic will return? I hope to see it some day (haven’t yet).
I liked The Little Mermaid 2.
We own all three of the Little Mermaid movies (3 was a prequel) – the kiddo loves them and Cars 2.
As far as sequels go, I liked the Lion King 2 1/2. Looking at pictures of the MSEP is the best way to view it. Without that hideous, repetitive music that makes you want to throw your ears on the ground…and then step on them.
Thanks Alan! I saw spectromagic and liked it, considering i generally don’t like parades. Guess I got lucky and saw the right one.
Spectro is superior to MSEP in every way. I concluded there must be a financial reason why MSEP came back and Spectro was mothballed. Certainly it can’t be artistic.
Thanks for the great MSEP pics, taken from my favorite parade viewing spot. As to Spectromagic’s return, I just read on another site that the parade is in such bad shape that it’s most likely never to return. I also liked it better than the MSEP, although I’ve been enjoying the MSEP since it debuted in DL way back in the dark ages.
The camera is a Canon 5D Mark III and the lens is the 16-35mm F2.8 II. Pictures would likely be better if you knew what you were doing
You were spot-on about Sat crowds; we were there for about 11 hrs. Walked right on Little Mermaid at about 10:45pm; had to do it just to say I’ve been. Also, there was no Pork Glop w/Fake Steak on menu at Pecos Sat about noon. They must read your blog.
Pork Glop is an after 4pm specialty. Disney doesn’t want you picking it up for lunch on a quick service credit!
“Specialty” Sorry I missed it then….not.
Loved the second tron movie.
I loved Tron 2!
The pictures of MSEP just brought me back to the late 1970′s, seeing the parade for the very first time as a 5 year old! Thanks!!
We had a WDW magical experience watching MSEP 2 years ago. Shortly before the parade started we were wandering in the Hub close to the bridge to Liberty Square, searching for a spot where our then 6 year old daughter would be able to see. An observant cast member noticed our Anniversay buttons and escorted us to a roped off viewing area right next to the bridge, complete with park benches. We had front row seats!
If that wasn’t treat enough, the cast member clued us in on a secret for that location. The floats sometimes needed an extra push (or pull) to get over the slight bump at the bridge. While waiting for their boosts, both Alice and Tinkerbell called out to my handsome but shy teenage son. He turned almost as red as his college sweatshirt!
I really do miss Spectro. Although having MSEP is okay as it allows me to ignore the parade and get on with the attractions. Of course, there is no way to escape that music…
So what are the waits like at Belle at around 10:15am? How much time would we need to budget at that time of the morning?
I love the MSEP, especially the blorping snails. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Really wonderful photos, thanks for sharing.
We were there Saturday night too and boy was it crowded. We went because it was our last night there and wanted to experience it. Had a great time.
@Patty
You probably mean “Lion King 1-1/2″? The one with Timone and Pumba re-living the movie so we see their point of view? That was a fun one. “Dig a tunnel, dig dig a tunnel…quick before the hyenas commmmmmmme.” Good songs.
Spectro is better. When they finish URINE will they close the bathrooms between Peter Pan and Columbia Harbour House on the opposite side of the walkway? Maybe turn it into something else like a Angus Pizza Burger kiosk?
“Until MyMagic+ ruins our lives and shuts this website down,…” Please! Say it isn’t so! I’m not sure what I’ll think of MyMagic+ (esp since they haven’t decided how to handle us AP holders), but I couldn’t possibly do without you!
@Jimmy – Disney should build a food stand that sells only things Josh has said are terrible – Angus Pizza Burger, Pork Glop Platter, those hot dogs from the Studios, etc.
Hi Josh! Any chance you’ll be taking a look at Splitsville?
p.s. @Adrienne I did too! I can’t recall voluntarily watching a parade after the age of 7.
MSEP is ok but (in whiny voice) I want Spectro back!!
Great pics though!
How dare you say Tron 2 isn’t any good. That movie rocked.
Don’t know what Touring Plans is reporting, but on the 26th, we were able to pull Barnstormer, Dumbo and Space Mountain FPs at the same time.
And I have to second a lot of the comments about turnstiles and being forced to wait to enter the parks. We had a split stay at Kidani and VWL and because we have APs we were forced to use the old turnstiles instead of the RFIDs. On the 20th it made about a 20 minute difference. Enough that if WDW doesn’t fix the problem quickly, we will be done with WDW for the foreseeable future. Between the SA tour groups, the lack of turnstiles and the lack of any new rides – we had experienced Little Mermaid at DCA 18 months ago and agree that it is very underwhelming – that it makes no sense to visit annually any more, much less 2-3x each year.
I’ve never seen Spectro, *when* is it coming back?
Count me as one who loves MSEP!
Good recommendation for today. MK was the “most recommended” park. We were here and had 10-minute posted wait on Big Thunder at 1PM (actual wait time ~8 minutes), even with Splash under refurb.
Thanks Josh!! Big fan of your site
Can you tell me about when you will have April’s crowd calendar updated? I’m trying to put together our park plan and get dining reservations, but am unsure how much will change from what you currently have. Any thoughts? Thanks!
Question/Advice re: Enchanted Tales With Belle. Is it worth experiencing once (in your opinion) if you are the parent of a jaded 9 year old girl who is embarrassed by Princesses and quite possibly be horrified by the acting that we will have to watch, and a 6 year old boy who could care less. Should we do it? Is it mostly just a preschooly “play” with carboard cut-outs being put on by young children picked from the audience or am I missing something?
I guess what I am getting at is watching kids in the audience act the main entertainment outside of it being in a very well themed/decorated attraction- that and meeting Belle at the end? I guess I suffer through enough school plays done by my own kids that I don’t want to go to this one done by other kids if that’s all it is.
Now, that said, DS is beyond excited to do Jedi Training- so I have no problem watching.
Abharmagic–We did the Belle things with our kids in December. I go against the grain on this one I think, but I would NOT stand in line for even 15 minutes for this if I did not have a kid who would be eager to participate.
Now, when we did it, our 7-year-old boy was the beast and our 4-year-old was Maurice (Belle’s father) so it was great. But given that I have two boys, that was probably the only time we’ll do Enchanted Tales.
Thanks Beth- I appreciate an honest opinion. We will probably do it, only b/c it’s something new to try. Jaded 9 year old be damned! Really, since when is 9 the new 13…. I digress, but 9 was different 30 years ago.
Hey, if you don’t like the Electrical Parade, send it back home-we miss it! As far as Specromagic goes-saw it once and that was good enough for me. I guess it’s all what you grew up watching, for me it was Main Street Electrical Parade in Disneyland (not DCA) as it was meant to be.
I love Stanley Kubrick
I thought I read somewhere the MSEP was supposed to be going away and Spectro would be coming back? Really hope that’s true, do NOT like MSEP. Hoping it’s gone by 2014!