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August
15, 2005
Fastpass
No Longer Available for Haunted Mansion?
Monorail Barn/Famous Doorstep in Liberty Square?
Bottled Water at the World
Which Park Featured Captain EO?
Is There a Ride in the Germany Pavilion?
New "Business Casual" Dress Code at Chef Mickey's?
Larry
writes:
I was at
the Magic Kingdom a couple of weeks
ago and noticed that the Haunted Mansion was no longer a Fastpass attraction.
I had noticed the same thing when I was there in early June as well,
so this apparently wasn't a one-day thing. It looked like the Fastpass
ticket machines were there, but were covered with tarps. Has the Haunted
Mansion been taken off Fastpass? If so, why? I'm planning on taking
my wife and kids back on Halloween for Mickey's
Not So Scary Halloween Party. Will the Haunted Mansion be back
on Fastpass by then?
Hi
Larry!
The Haunted
Mansion is no longer listed as a Fastpass attraction on the Magic Kingdom
park map. The simple explanation for the Haunted
Mansion's non-use of Fastpass
is that it never needed Fastpass to begin with. It was discovered that
once Fastpass was in place for the Haunted Mansion, it only served to
clog up the queue and interfered with the dynamics of the load area,
leading to a long wait time for everyone. The queue actually moves much
more quickly and more smoothly without Fastpass, and can move many more
guests through the ride now.
Both you and I were there during the peak summer season and the Fastpass
machines were not in use at the Haunted Mansion. No matter what time
of day or how crowded the park was, it was my experience that the line
for the Haunted Mansion never was longer than 20 minutes without Fastpass.
I won't even attempt a guess at whether the machines will ever be switched
on again, but if they weren't necessary during the very crowded month
of July, they probably aren't necessary at any time of the year.
A.A.
Sandi writes:
We will
be going to WDW in the spring and I have a grandchild who loves trains.
Where is the monorail roundhouse and is it accessible to visitors?
Also, I
read that there was a stepping stone in Liberty Square that came from
Monticello. In several visits, I haven't been able to find it. Is it
still there?
Hi Sandi!
The monorail
barn is located behind the Magic Kingdom
and is not open to guests -- sorry.
I had also read about the doorstep that allegedly came from Monticello,
and so went searching for it. I found a marble doorstep with a metal
railing around it on the side of the Hall
of Presidents building in Liberty
Square. Curious to find out if this was the Monticello doorstep
I had read about, I contacted Disney historian Dave Smith. Mr. Smith
told me that the Monticello story is a myth, and he doesn't know how
the story started. I'm still wondering why that particular doorstep
has a metal railing around it when none of the others do, but if Dave
Smith says the Monticello doorstep story is a myth, I believe him.
By the way, where did you read this? I read about it years ago in an
official Disney guidebook published by Disney itself.
A.A.
Dan the Budget Vacation Man writes:
I've been
told that bottled water is fairly pricey in the Magic Kingdom. I would
like to know if you could bring your own. Do you also know what name-brand
water bottle they sell? Thanks.
Hi Dan!
The brand
of bottled water sold in the resorts and parks is Dasani. You can buy
a 24 oz. sports bottle for $2 or a 12 oz. bottle for $1.25. The price
is the same in all four theme parks. Some resort hotels also sell large
bottles of Evian and Perrier in their gift shops.
It is perfectly fine to bring your own bottled water into the parks,
as long as it's in a plastic bottle, as no glass containers are
allowed. I usually pick up a 12-pack of 24 oz. bottles at a local grocery
store and carry a bottle into the parks with me every day. I refill
it from the water fountains as the day goes on. Yes, I'm used to the
funny taste! ;-)
Tip: Invest in a bottle strap (approximately $3 at a drink cart)
for easier bottle-toting.
A.A.
Cristy writes:
My family
and I have visited WDW many times since 1993 and have seen many attractions
come and go. My question relates to the Michael Jackson 3D film, Captain
EO. I was under the impression that it was in the Magic Kingdom (in
Tomorrowland near where Buzz Lightyear is now situated), but my dad
seems to remember it in Epcot. Can you please help and let us know which
park it was in and where it was located? Thanks!
Hi Cristy!
Dad's recollection
is correct. Captain EO ran from September 12, 1986, to July 6, 1994,
in Epcot's Imagination Pavilion's
Magic Eye Theatre. This is the theatre that now houses the Honey
I Shrunk the Audience attraction.
Perhaps you visited Disneyland
during Captain EO's run there in the Magic Eye Theatre in Tomorrowland?
The Disneyland version opened in September 1986 and closed in April
1997.
EO Tidbits:
Michael Jackson had some formidable help on this film: Jackson's co-star
was Anjelica Huston. The film's Executive Producer was George Lucas,
and it was directed by Francis Coppola.
Captain EO is the only Disney theme park attraction to open on both
coasts almost simultaneously. WDW beat Disneyland's opening by six days.
A.A.
Ray writes:
I have
been told that there is a water ride behind the mural to the right of
the entrance of the beer hall at Germany in Epcot.
Supposedly, it's a trip down the Rhine River and it's ready to go, but
they have no sponsor. Is it true, or just rumors? If you tap on the
wall, it sounds like a temporary plywood structure. Thanks for your
help.
Hi Ray!
The story
is partially true. When the Germany pavilion
was first built, the original plans called for a boat ride down the
Rhine River. Although the ride building was constructed and is still
there as you described, the ride was never built, probably due to the
expense of the project. The ride building is currently used for rehearsals
and storage.
Trivia: Even though there's no ride in Germany, the pavilion
boasts the largest number of shops in World Showcase with a total of
eight.
A.A.
Charles
writes:
We booked
the buffet for Chef Mickey's
on our first day in Disney. I think I read that there is a dress code
there of "Business Casual"? Is this true and does that eliminate
shorts? Not sure we want to build into the daily plan a trip back to
the hotel to change. Thanks!
Hi Charles!
While it's
true that some WDW restaurants have changed to the new Business Casual
dress code, it is only true for the handful of upscale "Signature"
restaurants. This would include, for instance, the California
Grill at the Contemporary, and Jiko
at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Chef Mickey's
and most other restaurants have remained casual and park wear is still
allowed.
See All Ears Net's® Dining News pages
for the complete list of restaurants now requiring Business Casual dress.
A.A.
That's
it for this edition!
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