WDW Weekend
Friday, January 13, 2006
I was up at 6 and closed the door to the outside as it was a little cool. Lyd got up at 7 and we had some breakfast, courtesy of the hotel.  By 0830, we were headed for the bus zone on the 1st floor and caught a bus for MGM. We tried to get a fast pass for Lights, Motor, Action, but they weren't available. So, instead , we did the Muppet 3-D, and Star Tours before returning to Lights, Motor, Action for a 40 minute show at 1020.  We then took in the Great Movie Ride and returned to the hotel. Following a change of clothes and a light lunch, it was on to the Magic Kingdom.  We did Philharmagic, the Haunted Mansion, The Hall of The Presidents and Pirates of The Caribbean before returning, in a light rain, to the hotel.  Dinner was at Narcoossee's  The fireworks (without pictures) went off at 8.  Lyd retired just before 9 after a satisfying day at WDW.

Muppets 3-D

Star Tours
Muppets 3-D is a 3D movie (polarized glasses) with all of the Muppet characters. Visual sensations pretty much destroy the theater by the end of show. This is a flight simulator. Around 40 riders are in a cabin that bobs and weaves but doesn't really go anywhere.  The movie screen provides the visual sensations of a ride through the Star Wars environment.
In the pre-show area are lots of trunks full of Muppet paraphernalia.
There is a statue of the pig outside the attraction.  Note the two pigs, one of which is made of bronze. C3-PO is a part of the pre-show walk through. Disney is expert and entertaining guests while they wait. A large "walker" guards the entrance to the ride.
Lights, Motors, Action!
In an arena that holds thousands, a demonstration of automotive stunts is the highlight for this show imported from Euro Disney.  Prior to the show, car/film trivia questions are flashed on a large screen.  We got most of them wrong.  Lyd remembered her answers from last June, not Sal's answers.  Sal got most of the questions right without seeing the choices.  It is a thrilling show with lots of speeding cars, ramp jumps and just enough pyrotechniques to keep the crowd warm
The show is in the back corner of the park The stunt area is made to look like a French waterfront The red car is the hero and all of the black cars are the enemy Finally, one of the drivers of a black car is set afire!
Disney Studios MGM - The Great Movie Ride
Disney MGM studios features "adventure." The announcement made when the park opens references the Hollywood that never was and always will be. The Sorcerer's Apprentice's hat dominates the center of the park.  The back lot provides sets for a load of pictures.  The Great Movie Ride is a slow tour through some of the best movies ever made.
Main Street - MGM Yuse Guys Moichandise The Marquee of the Great Movie Ride In The Great Movie Ride pre-show is a Merry-Go-Round horse from Mary Poppins.
The Magic Kingdom
Next

The theme of the Magic Kingdom is "Fantasy."

Beautiful mosaics adorn the walls inside Cinderella's Castle.
Roy and Minnie sit together at the end of Main Street Walt and Mickey stand in front of the castle.
The Haunted Mansion Hall of The Presidents Pirates of The Caribbean

The Haunted Mansion starts is a small room with no doors and some very scary individuals.  Then, a slow moving ride moves through the rooms and corridors of Gracy Mansion, encountering some remarkable special effects and ghosts. Eddie Murphy stars in a film inspired by this ride.
An external view of Gracy Mansion An epitaph for a man too many times married.

 

The Hall of The Presidents, an auditorium show, starts with a brief film about our nation's history.  Then, in a marvelous accomplishment of audio-animatronics, each of the presidents, either standing or sitting, is introduced; nodding or making a small gesture when introduced.  President George W. Bush makes a short speech.  President Lincoln rises from his chair and makes a few remarks.
The Great Seal of The United States Andrew Jackson, 7th President of The United States.

In a slow moving boat ride, guests ride through a musical version of a pirate attack on a small Caribbean sea-town. Johnny Depp stars in a film inspired by this ride.
The entry sign with talking parrot

Munitions deep inside the town's fortifications.

 

Narcoossee's

On the banks of the Seven Seas Lagoon, adjacent to the Grand Floridian Hotel, Narcoossee's offers a fine choice of seafood and other dishes.
Lydia's Choices Tom's Choices
Seafood Chowder: A hearty soup with fish, shellfish, potatoes and cream ($9) Shrimp Cocktail: with a traditional cocktail sauce and a stone ground mustard rémoulade ($12) Prince Edward Island Mussels: with white wine, roasted garlic, and parmesan cheese ($15) Fried Calamari:  with a Pepperoncini Dressing ($12) Pan-Seared Wahoo: with Cannellini Bean and Tasso Ham Cassoulet ($31) Over-cook and dried out, unfortunately.