devores

Just an FYI.
I found TCDs photos and added them to his account.

Just an FYI.
I found TCDs photos and added them to his account.

On a brief side note.
 
The magic shots are treated the same as a character and we have to maintain character integrity. 
 
What does this mean?
 
It means certain magic shots are only available in certain locations. For instance, if youre looking for Pascal, look around Rapunzels tower. You wont find him in front of the castle, thats where Tink hangs out. And if youre looking for Naveen as a frog, look around his meet and greet area. Olaf needs allot of space to dance, so he hangs out on the bridges where theres plenty of room. Chip can be found around Be Our Guest and Sebastian hangs out by Ariels ride. If you visit the circus area you could find some magical balloons. 
 
The same rules apply at other parks as well. So if youre looking for chip at Studios, look around the Belle stage show. Sebastian has been found by the Little Mermaid show.

What is your position regarding smoking, the use of the grill and horse whispering?
 
TCD

For the most part, the list is good. But, there are a few changes.
 
No more stitch with ice cream or fairy wings.
 
If you can find a photographer trained to do wings, you can get them done. But the shot is no longer trained and there is no spot for it. It will occasionally pop up during flower and garden but there are no guarantees.
 
No stitch box. That shot has been discontinued.
 
Olaf is shot in all the parks now. Every photographer is trained to shoot it.
 
The snow flake shot is at studios and MK. It can be found anywhere you find Olaf. The other Frozen magic shots are only available until the end of the Frozen summer event.
 
Pascal can now be found at the MK. There are several variations to this shot so if the photographer asks you to do something different than the shoulder dont worry. He will still be in there.
 
There is also a Guardians of the Galaxy magic shot at studios for a limited time. You get your photo in a lineup with the characters from the movie.

I haven't posted in a while but this is big info that needs passed on.
Starting today BOG is testing a return card system similar to the one for Ana and Elsa and the frozen sing along.
Today, all cards were given out early morning and there is no standby line for lunch.
So if you plan to eat at BOG for lunch, get here early and get a card. They will turn you away. No idea how long the test is or if/when it will be implemented for good.

Every character has a photographer assigned except Mary Poppins and Tarzan characters. Some get pulled due to low staffing to help cover the more popular characters, but the goal is to have a photographer with every character.

Every character has a photographer assigned except Mary Poppins and Tarzan characters. Some get pulled due to low staffing to help cover the more popular characters, but the goal is to have a photographer with every character.

I rode EE 8 times today. The bird is back but the track is still missing. There is scaffolding set up along the back part where the broken track is supposed to be. Still no moving yeti.

I would put this out there.
 
Please do not interfere with Twin #2s job performance. While it is ok to have the occasional meeting while on the clock, Disney will frown on people intentionally looking for her to meet her on the job. This could affect any future she has planned with Disney. So please please please do not go looking for her.

I would put this out there.
 
Please do not interfere with Twin #2s job performance. While it is ok to have the occasional meeting while on the clock, Disney will frown on people intentionally looking for her to meet her on the job. This could affect any future she has planned with Disney. So please please please do not go looking for her.

No night rides yet. The testing was only conducted during daylight hours. Of course, daylight is until around 9pm now a days.
 
But as TCD has said, there is very well themed lighting all throughout the ride area and should make for a great ride experience. Not sure how different it will be.
 
And I like how the honors keep changing.
 
Went from first fiend to ride, to first non cm fiend to ride. Whats next? First fiend named Dave to ride? Wait, nailed that one too.......

Time to post some photos:
 

 
This is the beginning of the standby line........
 

 
About halfway through the outdoor portion of the standbyline.
 

 
The entrance to the indoor portion of the line
 

 
The interactive game
 

 
Close up
 

 
This is the water feature I mentioned.
 

 
These are the barrels you spin. Note the names on them. If you spin one, you get the dwarf that's named on the barrel. They appear on the ceiling.
 

 

 
From the top of the lift just after leaving the station
 

 

 

 
This is just after the indoor mine part. I don't have pictures of the inside because all I had was my phone and they did not come out. Be sure to check out the beams in this area. They have allot of interesting "knots" in them.
 

 

 
You can kind of see how much the cars swing in this picture
 

 

 

 

 
Cant make it out, but Snow and the dwarves are dancing in the cottage......

Time to post some photos:
 

 
This is the beginning of the standby line........
 

 
About halfway through the outdoor portion of the standbyline.
 

 
The entrance to the indoor portion of the line
 

 
The interactive game
 

 
Close up
 

 
This is the water feature I mentioned.
 

 
These are the barrels you spin. Note the names on them. If you spin one, you get the dwarf that's named on the barrel. They appear on the ceiling.
 

 

 
From the top of the lift just after leaving the station
 

 

 

 
This is just after the indoor mine part. I don't have pictures of the inside because all I had was my phone and they did not come out. Be sure to check out the beams in this area. They have allot of interesting "knots" in them.
 

 

 
You can kind of see how much the cars swing in this picture
 

 

 

 

 
Cant make it out, but Snow and the dwarves are dancing in the cottage......

Well, I guess I get bragging rights to be the first fiend to ride the Mine Train.
 
Today, I had the opportunity to ride it, not once, not twice, but 10 times throughout the day. I will also be riding it tomorrow.
 
10 was more than enough to make me not to want to ride it again. But Ill squeeze in a few more.
 
A few pictures will be coming, but all I had was my phone so don't expect too much.
 
The review:
 
The queue is very nice. The outdoor section is well shaded by trees and they have fans set up throughout to help keep it cool. It looked like misters may be installed on them as well, but they were not running today. But then again, there was no wait either. The indoor queue is large and can accommodate allot of folks under shade. There are a few interactive components, such as a digital sleuth where you collect gems and place them in the correct spot by shape and color. There is also a nice water feature that plays music and shoots colored water when you place your hand under it. It is similar to that of the haunted mansion music feature. Inside the cave is yet another interactive feature where you spin 8 barrels of gems. The faster you spin them creates images on the ceiling. If you can get all 8 spinning at the same time you get a special surprise. We could not get all 8 spinning with just 4 of us. Im sure once the crowds come it will be easier.
 
The whole area is very well themed. Its nice but it is also brand new.
 
The ride itself did break down a few times throughout the day but was quickly brought up, but that's not a good sign for soft openings. They will not soft open if the ride keeps going down. Lets hope they fix the issues soon.
 
The ride itself is similar to the barnstormer in ride speed and intensity with a slow "dark" part in the middle. If youre looking for a high intense ride, this is not it. You do pull some Gs in the last few turns, but it is most definitely a kids ride. The dark section is cute and has the dwarves working in the mine. The animatronics are on the same level of Under the Seas with Ariel. The whole ride only lasted about a min. Its very quick.
 
The cars do swing. When you watch from the sidelines, they do not look like they swing much. But when youre in them, you can see how much movement they have. We were able to swing them pretty good by timing it with corners and getting the whole car in the motion. You can also get them swinging in the slow dark section.
 
Overall its a good ride and is worth a ride. I wouldn't wait more than 30 to 40 mins for it but can see the wait times reaching Frozen levels when it first opens.
 
The amount of dirty looks we got when riding would tell you enough. We had to have security watching the entrance and all 4 sides to keep people from sneaking in or threatening the CMs (yes, someone was evicted for threatening bodily harm if his kid wasn't allowed to ride).      

I will shed some light on this question.
 
The country of Norway has penned a contract with WDW to have exclusive rights to Frozen for an undisclosed timeframe. In order for this to happen, WDW said a proper meet and greet area must be constructed. In the meantime, the sisters were moved to PFTH to continue meeting while Norway turns the theater at the end of Maelstrom into a meet and greet. Once done, they will move back to Norway.
 
So its not a matter of how hard it would be. Its a matter of contractual agreements.

And this is what bothers me about the "media" these days. Its not about reporting new and interesting stuff. Its about "Look at the cool stuff I got to do that youll never be able to do" Rubbing it on our faces that they got to do something that the average joe will never get to do. And why? Because they have 3 followers on twitter, have no job, and live in their moms basement.
 
And would it kill ya to invest in some decent video equipment? That video was horribly shot. I cant take a reporter seriously when they are using their I phone to document the news.

Insider info: should have been quicker.....the super secret info has been removed to maintain its usefulness.

And this is what bothers me about the "media" these days. Its not about reporting new and interesting stuff. Its about "Look at the cool stuff I got to do that youll never be able to do" Rubbing it on our faces that they got to do something that the average joe will never get to do. And why? Because they have 3 followers on twitter, have no job, and live in their moms basement.
 
And would it kill ya to invest in some decent video equipment? That video was horribly shot. I cant take a reporter seriously when they are using their I phone to document the news.

And this is what bothers me about the "media" these days. Its not about reporting new and interesting stuff. Its about "Look at the cool stuff I got to do that youll never be able to do" Rubbing it on our faces that they got to do something that the average joe will never get to do. And why? Because they have 3 followers on twitter, have no job, and live in their moms basement.
 
And would it kill ya to invest in some decent video equipment? That video was horribly shot. I cant take a reporter seriously when they are using their I phone to document the news.

No opening date yet. But I would venture to say it will be opened for a certain 24 hour event.

No opening date yet. But I would venture to say it will be opened for a certain 24 hour event.

Before anyone starts speculating. No, this is not a soft opening or CM preview. Those are the CMs who will be working that attraction. Part of the training/opening procedures is to ride the ride. You have to know how it feels and runs.

I for one will throw this out there. Andrew should be considered media and get on of those media invites to the reveal.

Here is a good way to find the official opening day. Someone who has a MB and AP needs to go online and try to make FP+ reservations for the ride. This will give you the exact opening day. Worth a shot anyway. I know what CMs are being told as to the official opening. But I cant divulge that info.