Magic Kingdom Update: Trees on the Mountain (PART 3)
Welcome to PART 3 of our newest Magic Kingdom photo-report, Orlando Theme Park News Readers (PART 2 can be found by clicking on this LINK)!
In part 2, we took a look around Frontierland and Liberty Square, as well as a few places located inside Fantasyland. Now it is time to check out the work being done on the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. After that, we'll see what's happening in Tomorrowland:
In part 2, we took a look around Frontierland and Liberty Square, as well as a few places located inside Fantasyland. Now it is time to check out the work being done on the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. After that, we'll see what's happening in Tomorrowland:
The back of the mountain:
What a beautiful sight (by the way, you can find the high-res. version of many of these photos on our Flickr page):
Leaving Fantasyland:
In Tomorrowland, a car of the Tomorrowland Speedway was having some issues:
You may not have to worry about speeding tickets, but you may still have to deal with traffic jams...
Some walls are up around the former FASTPASS distribution area of Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin:
Nothing happening here:
It looks like they may soon remove these walls as work on the new Main Street bypass continues:
And that is all for now. Before concluding, remember to like us on our official Facebook page and follow us on Twitter for live updates from the parks. Also, you can subscribe to our weekly newsletter using the gadget located on our sidebar (the newsletter is sent every Sunday). If you would like to make a donation to OTPN, feel free to use the big "DONATE" button on the sidebar. Thank you very much for your support, and enjoy the rest of your day!
PHOTOS BY: Alex, Official Orlando Theme Park News Photographer and Team Member.
CLICK HERE TO GO BACK TO PART 1 OF THIS MAGIC KINGDOM PHOTO-UPDATE >
CLICK HERE TO GO BACK TO PART 1 OF THIS MAGIC KINGDOM PHOTO-UPDATE >
The Mine Train is looking great. VERY attractive. The theming on this ride may be the best I've ever seen. (And that means a lot competing with Splash Mountain, Big Thunder, and Under the Sea!)
ReplyDeleteWhile I am liking the way the Mine Train is looking, I can't help but wonder why it is taking them SO long to finish it. When you step back away from your "Disney can do no wrong and I love them" mind set (which I had for a long time) and really compare Universal to Disney in terms of construction time and adding new things, Universal is BLOWING Disney out of the water. Not only is Universal building things at lighting speeds, the things they are building are way more advanced compared to Disney.
ReplyDeleteThe really sad part is, a lot of Disney fan/press sites got a "behind the scenes" tour of the new Harry Potter expansion this week and every single site I have read that got to see it all basically said the same thing "This expansion will become the new standard for theme parks". Universal is not only building things faster, but they are building things with more details and using more technology than Disney has put into any ride/land in ever.
Sure Carsland at Disneyland was a great start, but it falls short when compared to Harry Potter and its advanced ride system when you consider the main ride at Carsland is just a clone of test track.
What has me really worried is the fact that Universal opened TWO different MASSIVE expansions (along with two new rides, ride revamps, and a re-themed land) before Disney even really starting Avatar...something they have been working on for years already and is still over 3 years away. Add on top of this the fact that the main new ride for Avatar is basically going to be a slightly more advanced Soarin' and you really start to wonder what they have been doing all this time.
Don't get me wrong, I still like going to Disney, but I have seen it all before. With the rate Disney is building new things, I only need to visit once every 4-5 years. However, with Universal it seems like every 6-12 months something MAJOR is opening and it doesn't seem like the new rides/updated experiences are going to be stopping anytime soon.
If I was in charge of Disney and had all of the land and money they have, there is no way I would be letting Universal "beat me". I really hoped when they announced the fantasy land updates in 2009, that Disney would start to go into overhaul mode to beat Universal, but that was far from the case. I see Disney World as a slowing sinking ship and if nothing is done soon, Universal will become the main Orlando attraction everybody wants to see which I am really surprised I am saying. I do feel bad for the main train however. With Harry Potter opening around the same time it does, nobody will be talking about it. All eyes will be on the masterpiece that Universal has built in roughly have the time it took Disney to build a simple kids roller coaster...
I had an AP to Universal in 2012 and was really unimpressed. I ended up going maybe 4 times and had no desire to go back any time soon... bad food, sparse rides, too many midway games. The new HP ride was great, but they stripped DD of all its amazing theming, the joke shop is basically an overpriced dollar store, and there's an ugly inch of caulk around the entire land.
ReplyDeleteHowever, now I regret getting an AP to Disney for my boyfriend this year. WDW's progress in 2013 was sad in comparison and seems to be going nowhere fast. The food at Universal is still laughable in comparison to any park but MK, but I don't think I can stomach the 2-3 E ticket rides per park any more and now I have to basically be at rope drop to get ONE necessary fast pass. I didn't think Disney could disappoint me so badly, but they have. I don't see any improvement until 2015 at the earliest.
@2nd Anonymous
ReplyDeleteI do agree with you with some points but some of your claims that Universal will be number is very far from the truth.
Universal is a great resort but they are limited. Harry Potter is a great franchise right now but 25 years down the road I doubt anyone will care. I'm a teacher and most of my kids in my classroom (7th Grade) don't even care or want to read Harry Potter, there already calling him old. So I think universal made a big mistake by expanding twice with the same franchise.
On that note Disney is also making that mistake with Avatar and you are right that nothing seems to exciting for the project. I much rather see another coaster come to Animal kingdom, then another useless land to walk around.
But my other point to argue is that Universal will ride to number 1.
It won't happen in the near future or never for that matter.
Magic Kingdom Park is the most visited park in the world, and it is the anchor for the Walt Disney World Resort. So while the other 3 parks might not be doing so good Magic Kingdom will always shine and help out the resort.
Also there are so many more things to do at WDW than universal, yes they split it up to 4 theme parks put even if you get 2 park hopper passes the same as 2 full day tickets for each universal park, your getting more from Disney!
I agree with your assessment of WDW. It will always outshine Universal because it appeals to all ages. Even with Seuss Land, Disney will always attract more people. I do not agree with your assessment of Harry Potter. I also teach Grade 7 and the novel is a part of my curriculum. Many of my students never read Harry Potter and are enjoying it. Look at other attractions at Universal- ET ride, Dudley Do Right, and even Jurassic Park. All of these attractions are dated and still they are popular. When we first went to Disney in 2004, my kids never saw Mickey Mouse cartoons before. It did't take long for them to be fans. Harry Potter and Mickey will be entertaining people for a long time at these parks. I too would prefer some new rides at AK. I will not be interested in Avatar.
ReplyDeleteI'm still mad at Disney for closing the clubs in Pleasure Island. To me, that's what made Disney World, and I never had to leave property. Now, I go to Disney for 2 or 3 days, but we now stay at Universal's resorts, spend 2 or 3 days at their parks, and every night at the restaurants and City Walk. Sorry Disney, you lost me and my family a couple of years ago.
ReplyDeleteHP is a franchise that will last, at least compared to Men in Black, ET, the Mummy, Twister... Valid, none of these have themed lands, but like an earlier poster said, Jurassic Park and all of Toon Lagoon are very dated.
ReplyDeleteAs for Pleasure Island, maybe you should've gone more because it was a huge money pit for Disney. There are still clubs left on the Boardwalk if you're interested in that.
Nothing like The Adventures Club or Comedy Warehouse..
ReplyDeleteQuit comparing construction timeframes between Disney and Universal! It's not wise and it's unhealthy!
ReplyDeleteThe reason why it's taking long to build the Mine Train is because Disney said that it would take that long. Disney spends years adding detail-rich lands to their parks. Universal, by comparison, slaps together a motion ride in 2 weeks.
The Fantasyland Expansion does look great. Disney does take the time to add details that improve the overall look of their attractions. I look forward to the opening of the Dwarf Miners Train this year.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, Disney does need to add attractions to the Magic Kingdom for sure. Tomorrow Land does need a new makeover possibly as SciFi City. Stitch and the Carousel have to go. The New Fantasyland could have a Soar'in Peter Pan attraction and possible a ride geared to Alice in Wonderland.
As for Epcot, Russia and Brazil would be good additions, as well as a new Horizons 2125 and a redo of both Imaginations and the Human Machine. Just some ideas, but once again we are talking about spending money and having to add to four parks, not two like Universal.
Anything done to Epcot would be great. It desperately needs an overhaul. It would have made more sense to put Avatar there since Epcot is concerned with environmental stuff like energy, food, etc. The community of tomorrow is long since past. Update Epcot. It's a nice place for dinner, but it is boring otherwise.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand why it takes Disney 8 months to paint a building When Universal can do it in 8 weeks. As "slapping" Rides together as Phillip stated, well I guess he has not ridden, Transformers or seen Diagon Alley in person. Compare the ride systems between Transformers and the Little Mermaid. No comparison. Walt Disney would be VERY displeased. Disney is run on past reputation, Universal is cutting edge. I still like Disney, but that is a fact.
ReplyDeleteYou're completely wrong, Mr. Anonymous Universal Apologist! >:(
ReplyDeleteRe: WesAlex, Stitch and Carousel of Progress DO NOT need to go! Let them stay put, especially Carousel!
As for a Soarin'-style Peter Pan ride, I disagree. Let them keep the classic Peter Pan ride.