Last week we returned from our 3rd trip together at Walt Disney World. This year's big event, besides seeing Dorie, Jimmy and meeting Dorie's new husband, Milan. But when we see our first palm tree, we know the vacation has started.
After arriving Tuesday evening, we walked around the resort (Coronado Springs) to see where everything was. It's a huge resort. That evening we decided to eat at the Pepper Market, kind of a modified buffet restaurant at the resort. There are a number of stations to select food, the servers record the food you take and you pay for it on the way out. But the food is mostly ready though they do custom make some dishes. Unfortunately, they kind of ignored DeeAnn since she was hard to see. Other guests certainly didn't do anything to help either. I don't know if i could recommend Pepper Market or not. This experience was the only time we ate there.
Wednesday was a treat for us. We experienced one of the best tours we have been on, the Back Stage Magic tour that took us behind the scenes at 3 different parks and parts of Disney opearions most people don't think about, let alone know about. We we not allowed to take pictures of most of the tour, but there were a couple of places we were allowed.
We started the tour at Epcot where we all gathered to checkin and meet out guides, Bryan and Monica. At that point they also distributed handsets that allowed us to listen to the guides throughout the tour and were able to switch channels in order to listen to the other guide as we switched off from time to time.
After boarding a bus, we were took behind Epcot where we were allowed to go under The American Experience, an animatronic experience about the history of the United States. We saw the machinery that was used to propel the different characters on stage and saw some of the daily maintenance that takes place, such as the hairdresser redoing one of the characters wigs. We then went "on stage" out in front of the attraction. Because it was still before the park opened, we still saw gardners watering flowers, delivery people with their wares, and general maintenance being performed. We also came across a tour group on Segways in the park. That looked fun.
We next made our way by bus over to Hollywood Studios (formerly Disney-MGM Studios) where were were taken backstage to see how the Tower of Terror ride works. The guides told us about the different safety features built into the ride and some of the changes that have been made since it opened (went from a bar restraint to a seat belt restraint).
While at the studios, we also had an opportunity to meet with designers of some of the costumes used throughout the park such as those pictured below. We then moved to the production area where the costumes were being built using computerized cutters and sewing machines. This is the same shop we visited later on during the Studios Backlot Tour.
Next stop was the topiary shop where we saw how they design and care for some of the amazing character-inspired topiaries used in the different parks.
Then it was time for lunch. we had been told we would be eating at the Wilderness Lodge and we were excited as this was also the resort that had the RV park. I was personally hoping we would get a glimpse of the RV park so I could see what we could look forward to some day. No such luck!
Lunch was served at the Whispering Canyon Cafe. Amazing lunch! Served family style it included barbecued chicken, ribs, and sausage, mashed potatoes, cole slaw, cornbread, and corn. Dessert was a yummy peach-strawberry cobbler. Did I say yummy? It was. It's one of those things i may try to make at home since the combination of flavors was so delicious. The vanilla ice cream didn't hurt things either.
We didn't see it but I understand the cafe rounds all the kids up and they get to prance around on stick ponies. It was fun. It certainly a resort that I'd like to stay at next time.
The next part of the tour sounded boring but was one of the most interesting parts. We were taken to the Operations Center where all kinds of maintenance and magic occurs, such as vehicle maintenance. Our bus was split into two groups and our half went to see the a laundry. We discovered this was just one of the three laundry's throughout the resort. This was the one that handled all the cast costumes (aka uniforms).
As the laundry comes in, it is sorted using a barcode sewed into each piece and then grouped according to color. It then went into large laundry bags and conveyed by a series of overhead tracks to huge washing machines. When they are finished washing, the washing machines actually tilts and the laundry dumps onto a conveyor belt that takes it to a dryer. After dried to the specifications the particular piece required (as stored in the barcode) it then dumps into another conveyor belt and placed on a hanger. the hanger is placed onto a computerized hanger than has a computer chip in it and then magically travels to it's destination. Many pieces need to be pressed and are routed to several cast members who do their magic. Others travel on another series of overhead tracks to a staging area, ready for pickup and delivery to their park or resort. Think of the doors traveling around in Monsters Inc. and you get the idea what all this looked like!
We then travels down the road to the operations center where we saw ride vehicles being refurbished or fabricated. there was a short presentation on the science behind animatronic characters.
Back on the bus, we traveled to the Magic Kingdom where we watched part of the parade then were taken underground to see the famed "utilidoors" a series of utility corridors that includes break rooms, offices, pin trading stations, internet stations, and tunnels that allow cast members to travel throughout the park without braking the magic of the particular area of the park.
The tour was such a great experience with the guides thinking about our safety and enjoyment, having umbrellas available, and distributing limited edition pins at the end of the tour. But as enjoyable as the day was, it was about to get better. Dorie, Milan and Jimmy were coming!
