Dancing With The Star Wars

[filkertom]

2011 Disney World Star Wars Weekend Dance-Off video is up. The Vader one is okay -- not many moves, but just the notion of Metallica's "Enter Sandman" blasting out at the Hollywood Studios makes me smile. The Chewbacca one, however, is aces, as is the whole-show vid.

I was just discussing this with Les earlier today: Next time you go to Disney World, what do you need to see? The answer changes with who your travelling companions would be, but there are a few constants -- I need to see the new queue for the Haunted Mansion; I've only been on Soarin' once; it's been a number of years since I saw the Country Bear Jamboree; and I haven't been on the Safari at the Animal Kingdom since the very first trip there.

Comments

[aiela.livejournal.com]

MuppetVision, since it was down for refurb during my first (and only, so far) trip to WDW.

I plan to recitify this during our April 2012 trip!

[ladysmith.livejournal.com]

Definitely the new queue at Haunted Mansion. I'm curious to see how the Fantasyland expansion is going, too (we haven't been since December.) I want to see what the Tiki Room is like now that they've refurbed it and gotten rid of Zazu and Iago (yes!!!!). My son will say we have to go see It's a Small World (okay, I love it, too). We have to ride the train. We have to ride the carousel and the teacups. Oh, and the Speedway.

Over at Hollywood Studios, we need to check out the new Disney Junior show, and go visit the Muppets. Ihave nasty vertigo, so I'm not big on motion simulators, but I am curious about Star Tours. (I've never been, actually).

Animal Kingdom is my son's favorite, and we have to hit (in order) the Safari, the Pangani Nature Walk, the other nature walk over in Asia, and The Lion King. I like Finding Nemo, the musical, but I'd have to do that alone, because no one else does.

I actually enjoyed the Kim Possible Challenge over in Epcot. If it's still there when we go back, we'll have to do it again. Everything in Journey into Imagination, especially if Captain EO is still playing (it is slated to be pulled 'soon'.) I like going to see the manatees, but I remember when the Living Seas was more about the seas and less about Nemo, so I don't enjoy it that much anymore. Oh, and I have to see Off Kilter!

[kilbia.livejournal.com]

That implies a first time. *grin*

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Yep, we discussed Star Tours as well. Given that there are apparently three different shows, it should be excellent.

I didn't know they were getting rid of Zazu and Iago. YES! Give me classic Tiki Room -- a lovely rest stop in the middle of Adventureland.

I really like Finding Nemo: The Musical -- Anne and I saw it the last time we went there together, and it was great. (Gotta have this talk with Anne. I do know she'll want to stay at the Yacht and Beach Club, for that five-minute walk to the back door of Epcot. And Beaches and Cream. And, oh yeah, the pool.)

Love Off Kilter. I should get a few more of their CDs.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Well, dang it, woman, hie thee down there! :D And please do ask us for help on getting the most out of it cheaply. Matter of fact, I'll link you right now to the two best sites there are for getting through WDW: AllEars.net (http://allears.net/index.html) and Mouse Savers (http://www.mousesavers.com/).

[peachtales.livejournal.com]

Never been to Florida, let alone any of the parks. I visited the Anaheim park a few times when I was a kid, which was a long time ago in a galaxy... never mind. ;)
Love the videos! Looks like they gave the stage a serious upgrade too.
I think I still like U Can't Touch This best from 09 http://youtu.be/PXJHnv_SiKg

[ladysmith.livejournal.com]

They JUST announced that the refurb that followed the fire will get rid of the "new management" and bring the ride back to something closer to what it was originally. I'm not even sure if it IS open yet.

And why am I not surprised that you liked Finding Nemo? (Did you get the CD? I didn't know until I got one that it was the same team that wrote the musical Avenue Q!)

[ladysmith.livejournal.com]

Also Passporter.com -- one of the better planning guidebooks out there. http://www.passporter.com

They have a guidebook especially for people traveling with special needs (Not just disabilities, either. This books is a must for those with allergies, people going to the parks while pregnant and those with small children! It even includes a section for people like me -- ones who have SIZE issues! That's the Open Mouse book -- http://www.openmouse.com/ )

[sveethot.livejournal.com]

Love Soarin'! Mickey's PhilharMagic tickles me to no end. Pirates of the Caribbean, of course. The on-site Cirque du Soleil is well worth the extra $. And the Sunday gospel brunch at the House of Blues.

Forgot the Dole whip at Aloha Isle (if it's still there). It's a pineapple frozen treat and it is delicious. Of course, it's even better at the Dole plantation on Oahu, but you can't have everything.

[sillyfox.livejournal.com]

Reflections of Earth (Epcot's light and fireworks show). Absolutely cannot be missed.

Actually, just about anything at Epcot. I'm not too keen on what they did with The Living Seas, and I do miss Dreamfinder, but it's still my favorite park out of the four.

Also, Spinning Teacups, the Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean (which we rode so often, the cast members began recognizing us), and walking through Cinderella Castle.

[virtualvirtue.livejournal.com]

I've been to Disney exactly once on a business trip. Stayed at the Grand Coronado. Went to Epcot for an evening. LOVED with a totally geeky soul the NASA ride and the ride up into the ball (they used SMELL in it - you could smell Rome burn). If I ever go back, I'd like to go on the Maelstrom and the American Experience (broken when I was there). Just sitting outside watching the acrobats in the China area and the music in the American area while I ate dinner was fun.

Out of all the parks, I think I would enjoy the Animal Kingdom one and the one where Cinderella's castle is. I think I'd enjoy Pirates and the Haunted Mansion.

And, dammit, I wanna do Soarin' and Honey I Shrunk the Audience.

[fionn320.livejournal.com]

I've only ever been to Anaheim and Tokyo. Watching the Hillbilly Bears sing in Japanese was a hoot.

My must sees at Anaheim include Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Space Mountain.

[wingus.livejournal.com]

Never been, no real drive to do so. Not a big theme park person, really. Unless it's going back to Cedar Point, since they have a Famous Dave's Barbecue there.

[jannyblue.livejournal.com]

Someday, I am going to find out what's in that [expletive]ing golf-ball at Epcot.

I've only ever been there twice (once at 6 and once at 21) and neither time did the people I was with want to go there.

[jannyblue.livejournal.com]

Mmm... Famous Dave's...

I have one 5 minutes from my apartment, which they conveniently built about 1 year after I moved down here. :-)

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

I won't do too much of a hard-sell, either on WDW or something better than Famous Dave's (which I find only average, with a harshness to the spice rub that puts me off), but it might help to think of Disney World as a little bundle of fantasy realms somewhat closed off from the rest of the world.

Universal has many more thrill rides, but the ones WDW has are pretty good. But what they really sell is immersion. When you go to Epcot, you are surrounded by futuristic coolness segueing into sights and sounds and foods and people from other lands. (Canada notwithstanding.) The Magic Kingdom is all about stories -- adventures, fairy tales, historical epics, space opera. Hollywood Studios is about The Magic Of Movie Making, in the Singin' In The Rain sense. (Ignore the Big Ass Hat.) And the Animal Kingdom is about exploring new lands in new ways, up close and personal.

Often, the best part of a Disney trip is just slowing down and watching everything around you.

Anyway. Like I said, no hard sell. If you're ever interested, let me know, and we can start a What To See And Do At Disney thread, complete with hotel and food recommendations to get the best value and the finest not-too-expensive eats.

[terriwells.livejournal.com]

What's in it is a rather cool ride, with audio animatronics, that takes you through the history of communication (it's much cooler than that sounds, really).

[dubheach.livejournal.com]

I've got two small girls that are going to want to see everything, but especially anything involving a princess or pirate, dinosaurs or giraffes (yeah, that covers most of it). Don't know if I'm ever going to have the $ to do it.

Oh yeah. And the girls will want to go on Small World. Did I ever tell you, (bet I did) that I have a 10 point quirk Against Small World? The ride broke in the middle of it for about an hour and they didn't turn off the music. I still shudder whenever I hear that song.

[wingus.livejournal.com]

If there's a lot more to do than thrill rides, then I'd probably give it a shot if I was to get involved in something that would be going to/near the park. One of those if-the-chance-falls-on-me-but-I-won't-go-out-of-my-way things.

As for barbecue places better than Famous Dave's, I could probably stand to learn that. :D Not any FDs within a reasonable distance, so other options are welcome there. Got a local Whole Hog Cafe, but they turned private club so they could serve booze in a dry county. Not really keen on having to pay a fee just so I can eat there.

[wingus.livejournal.com]

All of my envy! ALL OF IT.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Well, dude, according to your profile, you're practically surrounded by good barbecue. Don't want to leave town? Lots of good reviews online for Al's Barbecue (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Als-BBQ/117055095017089). Lessee, what's that big city to your southeast? Oh, right, MEMPHIS, TN. First and last stops: Neely's (http://www.neelysbbq.com/) and Interstate (http://www.interstatebarbecue.com/) (I prefer the latter, but they're both fantastic -- different branches of the same family in friendly competition).

[aiela.livejournal.com]

As a Cedar Point coaster nut, I wouldn't call ANYTHING at Disney a thrill ride except maybe Rockin' Rollercoaster. I still love Disney with all my heart, but nothing there is a thrill ride, to me.

[wingus.livejournal.com]

...y'know, I've lived here for most of my life, and drive by Al's at least once a week, but I've never actually tried the barbecue there. Tried the burgers, and they weren't anything special, but never actually tried the barbecue. I should fix that sometime.

Hadn't heard of Neely's or Interstate. Both look awesome, though.

[wingus.livejournal.com]

As someone who only gets as crazy as a tilt-a-whirl, that sounds right up my alley, then. :D

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

I would make a case for precisely four rides as being Whoa Man That's Maybe A Bit Much: Space Mountain (primarily because it's in the dark), Rock'n'Roller Coaster (which I won't go on, it turns you upside down), Hollywood Tower of Terror (a fantastic ride, which "drops" you in the dark several times for varying distances) and Expedition: Everest (which is WDW's only real kick-your-ass coaster, and by FSM it will kick your ass).

Big Thunder Mountain is just enough to get the blood pumping and the big smiles on everyone's faces; Splash Mountain is a lovely animatronic show with a five-story river plunge at the end; Kali Rapids Run is an outdoor commune shower in a tilt-a-whirl (I admit I've never been on it); and Dinosaur! is rougher than it should be, but hardly unmanageable. Oh, and the Kilimanjaro Safari Tour is on an actual bus; don't sit over the axles if you can help it.

Most everything else in the World is No Big Deal.