Today 1/22nd in the MK

[TDLFAN]

Hello all.
Just back from spending a few hours in the MK before I head out to TDL and HKDL this weekend. Just wanted to catch up with some of the things that have been taking place in the last few days and report back.

The weather has been in the 50sF here. With nights of hard freezing temps and one more to come tonight. Put your plants in. This was very apparent in the TTC area as the rotating Mickey and Minnie topiaries were properly covered and protected for the cold blast.

Upon walking to the TTC, I noticed the "MIllion Yrs" banners are gone and some of the new "Celebrate Today" banners have started to appear. While the few banners I saw today were simply flag or flat style... they were Ok and colorful. An improvement over the weak Million Dreams banners.

The monorail system.. well.. Of course, we boarded Mono Blue and they were having some problems with one of the doors refusing to close and lock properly. That caused a delay. I made a detour for the "Fairy" boat (yes, I like to call it that when I am onboard) and got to the MK before the Blue mono arrived. Go figure. These monorails are in so much need or retirement and replacement. Kudos DL for getting new monos *twice* while we continue to ride the same old and decripit 1992 marks.

Arriving at the MK.. crowds were light on Main Street and the parade was about to start. I understood this was the last showing of the "Share a Dream Come True" parade, as tomorrow will be the official "Celebrate a Dream come True". Yup. They are recycling the name again, and probably the same parade with different music. BUT! Today, the parade seemed to be in transitional mode and was played with the same TDL music we have heard for the past two years. First up, the pre-parade grand marshal vehicle, aka "BAC". The vehicle has received some minor decor alterations.. They have added the "Celebrate Today" logo on the front of the hood and colorful and festive (but plastic) balloon in the back of the car. The car's sides have been detailed with a very subtled Celebrate motif as well.
Then the parade.. everything seemed normal as usual, but Mickey's opening float was missing. So immediately after the bicycle push banner and the dancers in bland costumes, the Pinocchio float opened the parade. Pretty much everything else was the same as always.. but after the Princesses Float (aka, the Pluto squasher royal barge), the same old Tencennial Castle character barge closed the parade. This time however, this veteran float of a million-plus parade showings, got a small make over with added balloons and a "Celebrate Today" banner up front. The fab 5 characters rode on it wearing the Million Dreams costumes still, and Mickey was placed at the top spot of that float and closed the parade. The sorcerer broomsticks and Sleeping Beauty fairies were also repositioned in front of the character barge. Not sure if these are permanent changes but I doubt it. I would like to think that the Mickey float is backstage getting a facelift.. Maybe those attending tomorrow will find out.

After the parade.. I took a walk around the park. Finally bought the Mr. Toad teeshirt in the Philharmagic shop, checked other attraction tees for Dumbo and IASW, and also stopped by the Briar Patch shop to check out the BTMRR/FLTrain station tee I have heard about. But it's Mr's Toad's tee that is the big seller item. One gal bought one as well at the same time I did. My attention got deviated as I ran upon the new St. Valentine's merchandise. Very cute plushes for Valentine's, especially the Eeyore one.

One quick visit to Frontierland.. and voila! The new snack counter in the backside of Frontierland has opened. This is the same location where the McDonald's french fries cart used to sit. Now? There is a very nicely themed snack counter that resembled a western style log cabin of sorts, serving chicken fillet sandwishes, nuggets, and a vegetarian food option as well, with assorted soft drinks. The area was expanded as well to include a small open air dining section. It is very nicely done. If memory serves me well...(kinda hard at my age) the new counter service snack place is called "Golden Oak Outpost". Check it out next time you transti between Frontierland and Adventureland, behind Pecos Bill's Cafe.

It was getting chilly and I needed to come home to prepare for my asian DL parks tour, so I left the MK. I am assuming they will go in overnight and place some more decor at the park in regards to "Celebrate Today", and in anticipation of premiering the new version of the old parade.

I did take some pictures with my blackberry, and will post them shortly, so check back again.

[TDLFAN]

OK.. here are some pictures from my blackberry about today's visit. Of course, the pictures I took of the newly opened Golden Oak Outpost have gone MIA for some strange reason, so I apologize for that. But here are the ones that did transfer OK to my PC:

This banner caught my attention on the parking lot.


New banner hanging at the MK entrance.


Pre-parade show.. the BAC


Mickey closes parade today.


TDLFAN's date awaits on the CityHall steps..


New Valentine Mickey and Minnie plushes.


New design on the shopping bags.


Celebrate Everyday teeshirts.


Celebrate Everyday Mickey and Minnie plushes.


The rest of the photos have mysteriously disappear!!

ALSO TODAY>>> WDW and Universal are slashing hundreds of jobs (over 600) at the executive level. Half of those are found at WDW alone. I say good riddance. Hopefully whoever stays, will do a better job managing the park's attributes.

[mikeland]

Thanks for the update! Have a great time in Asia and stay warm!!!

[aimster]

The new bags looks nice.

And you wanna share your date with me?

[JCSkipr79]

omg TDL! We were on that SAME monorail! it actually didnt take that long? We were all yelling during the last parade. (Of course all CMs like us were at the end of the route). Im sure youve NEVER seen Brer Bear flash guests and shake his bottim like he did today!

[DarthDucky]

Originally Posted by JCSkipr79

omg TDL! We were on that SAME monorail! it actually didnt take that long?

Two monorails ahead of me broke down today when I was on MonoPink at about 6:15 today.

[Stitchy]

I like the bags!!!

[JoseyDisney]

I actually really like the balloons at the back of the grand marshall car (??!!!) as well as the Celebrate today banners!

But i'm afraid to say that I DON'T like the red tee's - YUK - almost as bad as the YOAMD ones! Won't be buying any of those, but i hope there are some other nice ones!

[Angie_Duke]

Forget the stupid Centennial float, I wanna see more pics of your date!

Good update though.

[kcnole]

I really like the celebrate today banners that DL has with the different characters on them. I hope we get those here in WDW.

BTW, how much are the Mr. Toad shirts. I love that shirt.

[sdmom]

I wanna see the Mr. Toad t-shirt - sounds like it is the must have for spring.

oops, just saw the thread w/ the pic - it is cool. I hope they still have them when we are there in 2 weeks.

Now, I wanna see more pictures of your date.

[Micoofy Duck]

oh my garsh i freakin love those new Disneyland and WDW bags! I want 20 of them!

[TDLFAN]

See? this is when TDR does WDW one better. TDR sometimes sells packs of small special event bags similar to those used at the park. They are great for small gift giving, etc. I wish WDW did the same.

how much are the Mr. Toad shirts. I love that shirt

$21.99 or so.

I really like the celebrate today banners that DL has with the different characters on them. I hope we get those here in WDW.

Doubtful. These banners are produced in-house and as far as I know, the folks at DLR work independantly from WDW as possible. Reason why DLR had much nicer "million dreams" banners than WDW.

Forget the stupid Centennial float

You mean.. TENCENNIAL float. WDW's 10th anniversary parade?

omg TDL! We were on that SAME monorail! it actually didnt take that long?

Actually, NO, we weren't. I was never ON the monorail. As soon as I started to walk on the ramp to get to the boarding area, I knew the mono was a bust. Turned around and caught the Ferry Boat as it was about to cast off. Reason why I got there by a nose ahead of the mono blue, which was pulling up at the same time we were arriving at the dock.

[Angie_Duke]

Originally Posted by TDLFAN

You mean.. TENCENNIAL float. WDW's 10th anniversary parade?

Yes I know, but I stupidly used spell check to "fix" the word without thinking.

I still say your date was better than some 30 (Yikes!) year old float.

[DarthDucky]

Originally Posted by Stitchy

I like the bags!!!

As long as they don't turn my hands blue like the YOAMD bags, I like them too.