Home Walt Disney World 2015 Spring Vacation 2015

|≤ <<< Thursday, April 9, 2015 >>> ≥| Background

At 0635, it’s 73 at Walt Disney World. We left the room at 0730 and took two monorails to EPCOT. There we met Rich and Patrick, our guides for the Backstage Magic Tour. With 19 in the group, we boarded a Disney bus and headed for the service road on the east side of EPCOT. No pictures were permitted of anything behind the scenes. After security boarded and did a bag check, we drove under Test Track, behind Mexico and Norway, past the marina and then behind Germany and Italy before parking behind The American Adventure. At this time of day, World Showcase is not yet open. We walked out on the empty Promenade and discussed how forced perspective make a five-story building look like a three story building. We went back around the west side of the building and into the operations area of the American Adventure. With a test show running, we watched the equipment raise and lower the audio animatronic scenes from deep under the theatre into the stage and then back down and out of the way. We re-boarded the bus and headed for Animal Kingdom. We headed out Western Way and turned onto Bear Island Rd. Our next stop was the nursery where we learned about all of the horticultural and landscaping needs of WDW. From there, we travel further south on Bear Island Road (another bag check) until we were behind the Tusker House Gate. We went through a cast gate into Animal Kingdom, just outside the Kilimanjaro Safari. We were greeted by another guide who talked about Disney Conservation. Following a restroom break, we went back out the Cast Member gate and returned to the bus. Now we’re headed for Hollywood Studios. After another bag search by security, we arrived at the Costume Shop. We toured this large installation where all the costumes are made for Disney shows and movies. Back on the bus, we headed for Wilderness Lodge. Lunch was at Whispering Canyon. We enjoyed the All-You-Care-To-Enjoy Platter of slow smoked pork ribs, barbequed pulled pork, roasted chicken, western-style sausage served with Mashed Yukon Potatoes, corn on the cob and cowboy-style baked beans. (22.49 if not part of a tour group). It was served family-style in two big platters per table. Dessert was a berry cobbler with ice cream on the top that I couldn’t find on the menu. Back on the bus, we’re headed for the Magic Kingdom. We drove past the round house that services the trains and monorails and stopped at Central Shops where literally everything is built and/or refurbished in a huge building. Back on the bus, we went to the Magic Kingdom main bus parking lot. We walked into the Magic Kingdom, through a special gate and up Main Street with Rich pointing out the names of Disney notables on the windows of the 2nd floor. Near First Aid, next to the Crystal Palace, we went through a “Cast Members Only” gate into the rear areas. Patrick took us down Stairwell #19 into the tunnels which are the first floor beneath the Magic Kingdom, which is the 2nd floor. We returned to street level just in time for the 1530 Main Street Parade. At that time, Lyd and I took our leave and returned to Bay Lake Tower, full of inside information. We left the room at 1830 for the monorail to the Grand Floridian and Narcoossee's. The fireworks started as our monorail was passing in front of the Magic Kingdom on our way back to the room. At 2150, it was 79 when we retired for the evening.