nilla
Proud Disney Pixie Dust Snorter
- Joined
- May 23, 2008
We decided that the camera didn't need to come out again for (most of) the rest of the night, so into the backpack it went.
We reach Soarin', and, fortunately, it's early enough for section B to still be open. Good. Because sitting near the side was not good.
Dylan once again can't shut up about Patrick/Puddy/The Tick being the voice of Joe Swanson on "Family Guy", and I, once again, remind him that I realize that. Again.
In we go, up we go, then off we go and out we go.
After the final ride on that one for the ride, I decided that, after initially raving about it, I really don't like the new Soarin' movie. It's too fake. Either the scenes look completely animated (you can't convince me anything in the Taj Mahal scene is real), or there's so much CGI inserted into them that I find myself playing "what's real, what isn't" instead of enjoying the flight. And I'm completely convinced that there isn't an authentic human or animal anywhere in this movie.
The CGI works (to an extent) in the transitions, but there's way too much of it. I'm ok with CGI if it's in Arendelle or on Naboo, but the whole point of Soarin' was you got to experience flying over places you might never fly over, with actual people, vehicles, etc. Not animated reproductions of those places and things.
Time will tell if I ever grow to like it more, but I miss "old Soarin'". A lot. Disney really blew this one, IMO.
Afterwards, and in spite of the late start today, Kristin and Emily are done. They're ready to head back to CSR, but Dylan and I have other plans. They include a lightsaber.
But first, we want to see if we can waste even more time playing the giant game in the dump area of Mission: Space. We say "bye" to the girls, then over to MS we go.
Since there's no line for the ride, we decide to finally hit that, too, since we've missed out on it so far this trip. We select Orange Team, of course. The woman in the couple riding with us isn't too sure about this one, but gives it a go anyway. She was ok, but I think it might be a one-and-done for her.
Me? I love it. And it HAS to be Orange Team. Green just doesn't give you the necessary effect.
Much to our dismay, after exiting, we learn the game is shut down for the night. Oh, well. We stop in the gift shop to grab a shirt for Dylan, and the transaction is fraught with computer glitches. Story of the day. It was a bit annoying that we couldn't use up some of the snack credits we wanted to spend, due to the almost-all-day malfunctions in the Magic Band charging system, but it worked great the rest of the trip, so we can't complain TOO much. As of Day 10, this was the first time the Magic Bands DIDN'T work.
Since it was then almost time for Illuminations now, we walked over near the front of World Showcase and watched. This is Dylan's favorite show at WDW. I like it, too.
Once done, we joined the masses in exiting the park and boarding a bus.
But which bus?
Remember, we want to get to Disney Springs. Preferably before Once Upon a Toy closes, this time.
I go back to my previous idea of riding a bus to one of the Disney resorts near DTD, and Saratoga Springs it is. Since the park just closed, the line to board is LONG, and no bus is here. Or coming.
Eventually one does, but there are two people in line with ECVs. It takes FOREVER to seat them, and as the bus fills up, it's starting to look like we won't make it. Two teenagers in their groups had on hats of sports teams and political figures from the past whom we don't particularly like, which made us even more bitter. For no rational reason, but anyway.
The bus queue experience did take a positive turn, though. As we were waiting, I got to talking to the woman in front of me about the resort, if she likes it, and, most importantly, how to get to DS from there. She was really helpful. And nice. In fact, she was awesome.
Why? Because her family was the last one let on that first bus, and she told the driver Dylan and I were with her party. Thanks! We're packed like sardines in here, but at least we're on. And probably going to get a lightsaber.
Meanwhile, Kristin and Emily were photographing Coronado Springs at night:
We reach Soarin', and, fortunately, it's early enough for section B to still be open. Good. Because sitting near the side was not good.
Dylan once again can't shut up about Patrick/Puddy/The Tick being the voice of Joe Swanson on "Family Guy", and I, once again, remind him that I realize that. Again.
In we go, up we go, then off we go and out we go.
After the final ride on that one for the ride, I decided that, after initially raving about it, I really don't like the new Soarin' movie. It's too fake. Either the scenes look completely animated (you can't convince me anything in the Taj Mahal scene is real), or there's so much CGI inserted into them that I find myself playing "what's real, what isn't" instead of enjoying the flight. And I'm completely convinced that there isn't an authentic human or animal anywhere in this movie.
The CGI works (to an extent) in the transitions, but there's way too much of it. I'm ok with CGI if it's in Arendelle or on Naboo, but the whole point of Soarin' was you got to experience flying over places you might never fly over, with actual people, vehicles, etc. Not animated reproductions of those places and things.
Time will tell if I ever grow to like it more, but I miss "old Soarin'". A lot. Disney really blew this one, IMO.
Afterwards, and in spite of the late start today, Kristin and Emily are done. They're ready to head back to CSR, but Dylan and I have other plans. They include a lightsaber.
But first, we want to see if we can waste even more time playing the giant game in the dump area of Mission: Space. We say "bye" to the girls, then over to MS we go.
Since there's no line for the ride, we decide to finally hit that, too, since we've missed out on it so far this trip. We select Orange Team, of course. The woman in the couple riding with us isn't too sure about this one, but gives it a go anyway. She was ok, but I think it might be a one-and-done for her.
Me? I love it. And it HAS to be Orange Team. Green just doesn't give you the necessary effect.
Much to our dismay, after exiting, we learn the game is shut down for the night. Oh, well. We stop in the gift shop to grab a shirt for Dylan, and the transaction is fraught with computer glitches. Story of the day. It was a bit annoying that we couldn't use up some of the snack credits we wanted to spend, due to the almost-all-day malfunctions in the Magic Band charging system, but it worked great the rest of the trip, so we can't complain TOO much. As of Day 10, this was the first time the Magic Bands DIDN'T work.
Since it was then almost time for Illuminations now, we walked over near the front of World Showcase and watched. This is Dylan's favorite show at WDW. I like it, too.
Once done, we joined the masses in exiting the park and boarding a bus.
But which bus?
Remember, we want to get to Disney Springs. Preferably before Once Upon a Toy closes, this time.
I go back to my previous idea of riding a bus to one of the Disney resorts near DTD, and Saratoga Springs it is. Since the park just closed, the line to board is LONG, and no bus is here. Or coming.
Eventually one does, but there are two people in line with ECVs. It takes FOREVER to seat them, and as the bus fills up, it's starting to look like we won't make it. Two teenagers in their groups had on hats of sports teams and political figures from the past whom we don't particularly like, which made us even more bitter. For no rational reason, but anyway.
The bus queue experience did take a positive turn, though. As we were waiting, I got to talking to the woman in front of me about the resort, if she likes it, and, most importantly, how to get to DS from there. She was really helpful. And nice. In fact, she was awesome.
Why? Because her family was the last one let on that first bus, and she told the driver Dylan and I were with her party. Thanks! We're packed like sardines in here, but at least we're on. And probably going to get a lightsaber.
Meanwhile, Kristin and Emily were photographing Coronado Springs at night: