hurricane

What's wrong with Mission Space? My oldest and I want to go on that one. And Hurricane, didn't you say the Stitch show was too scary for your child?

The car/motorcycle stunt show is very high on our priority list. We saw some scenes on the video and everyone got excited. Test Track and Pirates are scheduled to be closed during our trip. And we already have "It's Tough To Be A Bug" here in CA. That's too bad about the Narnia exhibit; but we may have already seen the costumes at Comic-Con International last year.

My oldest fell in love with Disney Quest but we don't have the $$ to pay for it. This trip alone is costing everything we've got.

With my youngest being autistic, we get a Special Assistance Pass that lets us go through the handicap entrance - we get to do a lot of rides even when Disneyland is crowded.

I'm surprised so many people are recommending Animal Kingdom because relatives of ours that went were not impressed with the park. They rated the Wild Animal Park much higher (although people from our park were hired as consultants for Animal Kingdom).

Whatever we do at the parks, it will certainly be an adventure. Thanks for all your help.

Mission Space is a rough ride - even adults get sick on it. It's a very intense experience. Some of the astronauts that went on it said it was akin to space training, and they got a bit urpy on it as well. Lots of shakes and motion - after all, it's basically a centrifuge.

So I think it's a bit intense for many kids - all the adults I know won't even go on it down here.

The web site doesn't show PotC closed at DisneyWorld then.

These will be:

* Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin: Closed for Refurbishment [February 1, 2006 to February 8, 2006]

* Liberty Square Riverboat: Closed for Refurbishment [February 1, 2006 to February 28, 2006]

Hope that helps!

-- Hurricane

Oh, I do so know. Don't miss that part of living there. And I like the much shorter travel times to the Caribbean. Used to be an 11 hour trip from Seattle to Cayman. It's two hours from here. Same with Jamaica. And the Bahamas are 90 minutes. Love that action.

Keep your flippers dry lass!

-- Hurricane

Sorry, too close to big doings in the Caribbean that time of the year. The Pyrates crewe will have to pass. Would have been fun and hey, it's Vegas. But the Caribbean love - that's where true pirates go. That's like the week before Pirate's Week in Grand Cayman by the way, for any of you who seek the turquoise waters of the sunny Carib...

-- Hurricane

Animal Kingdom for sure. It's not just a theme park. My 7 year old love learning about the different foot prints and dungs in identifying animals and playing with the video cameras were you can zoom in and watch the animals. The place has a greater tilt on science and preservation than you would think. The safari ride is a little kitchzy. But you can go to the Lodge for free and they have their own savannah out by the pool where you can see some of the animals. The Dinosaur section is a lot of fun - they have a huge play area with dinosaur bones. Plus there's a good raft ride there. Oh, A Bug's Life can get a little scary if your children don't like the dark. But the stink bug is great.

MGM - The shows are awesome - I particularly like the backstage tour (PotC artifact are right near the front) and the Raiders of the Lost Ark stunt show. And be sure not to miss the stunt car show - go there first and get a fast pass. The thing fills up quickly and it is amazing! There aren't very many kid friendly rides there but lots of good shows. The Muppet show is a lot of fun. The Secrets of Narnia isn't worth anyone's time. A lot of promise in the one part and just seven props on the back side stuck together.

EPCOT - For kids - not enough to do for an entire day. This is a better afternoon to evening stop. Although the World Showcase is nice. My 7 year old likes to do the activity where he can collect different things from each country. And he likes the Mexico and Scandanavian rides there. Stay away from Mission Space at all costs. My son's favorite is test track. Most of the exhibits can get a little ho-hum to youngsters although Innoventions is a lot of fun and has things like virtual baseball as well as some nice educational exhibits like finding your way through a house identifying fire hazards.....

Magic Kingdom - who doesn't like it no matter where? Their are some differences and I just like the place. Plus getting there is half the fun because the parking lot is way on the other side of the place and you can either monorail or take the ferry. The monorail also stops at the Polynesian and Grand Floridian, which are fun stops on their own. Be sure to visit Philharmagic - it's over by the Peter Pan ride - a great 3D movie with lots of effects.

If you need another day to fill, Downtown Disney works. DisneyQuest is there - five floors of amazing video games, including a virtual PotC game that is an absolute blast, literally. Shooting cannons at ships and ghost pirates is always great and the virtual Jungle Cruise is another goody. From there there are shops, movie theaters and later at night, Pleasure Island. My son loves the Adventurer's Club, a 30s era hunting lodge filled with whacky improv characters who put on great shows in the library, stuff on walls that talk, and bar stools that magically lower and raise. Almost all of Pleasure Island is kid friendly and it's a good place to go at night. There's also an improv comedy club, Raglan Road, an authentic Irish pub and so much more.

The weather is usually mild here in February - mid 70s. Very nice time of year to visit and not as crowded as the holidays, spring break or summer, when even the locals stay away.

Can't tell I live nearby, can ya?

-- Captain

My dreams are mostly an absolute blast. Roller coaster trips through the past, present, future, fantasy. Some are like full length movies, others take me to mysterioius places that I visit time and time again. I have very few nightmares. And I speak in tongues a lot of times - Russian, German and Chinese mostly. My girlfriend has finally gotten tired of the tongue talking. Keeps her up listening. Oh, and I can also do semi-conscious regressions at time to another place and time. Overall, a lot of fun.

-- Hurricane

Good to hear your progress on your projects, Patrick. Keep us in the loop. You're always doing something interesting.

As for me, I just finished a script for us to do in two weeks. The Pyrates are guest performers for the New Port Richey Community Orchestra, so we came up with a fun piece that covers a wide range of music and piratical themes.

Working on getting stuff ready for our Puerto Rico trip in April. A corporation has hired us to make an appearance at their annual convention.

Working on my Henry Morgan look - my real hair is shoulder length and I'm working on a period coat, at least I will be once Kass releases the pattern I've already picked out for it.

Adding new songs to our repertoire and have begun the ground work of finally doing a CD on our band. Hopefully we'll get that done before summer.

Not much in the way of supplies and such in process. Not much room. Diosa's pirate jewelry business has really taken off and consumes much of our construction time here.

-- Hurricane

I have tons of clothing from Cutthroat Island... They may have blown the budget but there stuff is first class in terms of accuracy.

Here's a link to some of it:

http://www.piratesofthecoast.com/artifacts/index.html

- Hurricane

After 22 years of doing this gig, I can't recommend enough the importance of buying the right shoe and the best shoe possible. Even though a correct pair seems expensive, they will last years - my original pirate boots have been with me since the beginning, so their amortized price is about $3 a year. Not bad at all. In the interim, other mates have gone through three or four sets at a higher yearly cost.

Save up and wait for the ideal pair. Your feet are not a place to scrimp. Plus, the right pair will be more comfortable than lesser knock-offs. Plus, you won't find yourself thinking your shoes suck in public... seen that too many times.

These aren't that bad, pricewise, especially when you see someone drop $200 on a pair of the latest Nikes that won't last two years.

- Hurricane

Here's some from the press kit.

Hope these help!

-- Hurricane

Hhm, I think I just insulted myself...

-- Hurricane

Then he definitely did not bear resemblence to the real Morgan.... :)

-- Hurricane

I'll have to check it out and see who ended up playing me. I was originally supposed to do the part of Captain Morgan but they were paying crap for the role. I would have lost money on the deal so I had to pass. Hope they did him justice...

-- Hurricane

Thanks to Disney, we have a surplused 3' palm tree, pre-decorated, from the Polynesian. It just tucks in a corner after we take it off the table. When living in the Northwest I sooooo hated taking down a real tree. Damn things would be dead in a week and you could only plug it for a minute or so without risking fire. I ended up shoving one of them into the space between my apartment and the supermarket next door once. Glad to be rid of fir trees, or as I saw one year at a Winn-Dixie in the Panhandle, Fur Tree...

-- Hurricane

Thanks, We've already sent in our missive about it - just a short drive from here with a waylay in Charleston. Woohoo! Road trip!!!!!!

-- Hurricane

For the cereal addicts, you can get it on ebay...

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?c...real&category0=

Not here - but I'm on a Mac. But I have a gazillon clients on the Evil Empire's machines and no one has reported getting hit.

-- Hurricane

I wouldn't do a discount. I think the shipping sets and getting some savings from mailing several at a time is sufficient.

You deserve the money for this - all of it. That's a massive amount of work. Even making one pattern here in our small shop is an undertaking...

I think we're happy getting them as they come along...

-- Hurricane

Terrific stuff. I think we'll be taking the whole set as well. I've been waiting for you to get this line done. It looks smashing...

Let us know when they're ready. I have my Sir Henry Morgan coat to make and the period is just perfect for this.

-- Hurricane

You may want to contact Willie Wobble in our own group, Stud. He's participated in the following for years. It has a much narrower focus, but has a similar spirit I believe...

http://www.floridafrontiersmen.org/Alafia.html

-- Hurricane

Good point on the fireworks. And both DisneyWorld and Disneyland have far better weather, usually.

I'll take either over any other parks in the country.... that's for certain.

Here's hoping that the ride changes are at least acceptable.... fingers and cutlasses crossed here. Of course, you already know something we don't know... :)

-- Hurricane

I don't know what they were smoking when they came up with the concept. It's far worse than the original. Just what I need, an animated character to scare my kids.

I don't think Walt would have like that idea....

Now, Buzz Lightyear, that's worthwhile.

And while we're on the subject of change... where did Captain E-O go with that gloved guy?

http://www.yesterland.com/eo.html

-- Hurricane

I have 35 years working for this company both at the Park and now at the Studios. I love what it all represents and how all that came to be. When you lecture me on the what Walt said your preaching to the choir.

I do not share all your views on what is right or wrong with our particular Park. We all have our own delights and that is what makes each Park it's own.

I do not share the opinions of those imagineers. I am simply quoting from the book that Jason authored. The imperfections of the ride was there view, not mine. I personally like the Disneyland version far better than the DisneyWorld version.

I don't think any entertainment park can stand still. Look at the dive Cypress Gardens took in Florida, until someone came in and rescued it. Universal Studios in Florida is on the ropes and rumored to be up for sale. While Disney's parks continue to increase in attendance, Universal, well, sucks, because there's not much there that's new and interesting. It's an unpleasant fact that new generations may find what was charming to the previous one to be a bit boring to the next. It's the nature of show biz.

I know I'm preaching the choir, but I'm a customer. I have an annual pass to all the parks. And from a customer standpoint, some of the park's rides are antiquated. Now before anyone jumps on me about Pirates of the Caribbean, let me say that it is not on my list - it's still my favorite and sometimes I just go to Magic Kingdom to ride it and nothing else for an hour.

And yes, Disney gets it wrong some times. Look at the Alien Encounter. Now it's Stitch and it still sucks. They only changed the character and kids are still scared of the dark. My own seven year old won't ride it.

Epcot is another fine example. It's a shadow of Walt's original concept. But no one wanted to visit an experimental town. They wanted thrill rides. Mission to Mars and Test Track are the draws. Soarin' has helped, but it's a transplant. Turtle Talk with Crush is amazing. But the hydroponic ride through the gardens really isn't drawing people there.

So progress continues, right and wrong. I thought it was stupid when they made the wenches chase the pirates. What was wrong with the original concept?

So yes, we do agree to disagree.

But if nothing ever changed we'd all be heading to Coney Island instead of Disneyland...

-- Hurricane

Far better that it goes to collectors that value the stuff than to have it go to scrap. Disney simply doesn't have enough space to house at the artifacts. So it is liquidated through two major suppliers, one on the west and one on the east coast.

I know that much of DisneyWorld's artifacts now reside in the loving hands of the Schoenith family in Detroit. It has found a good home - far better than wasting away in a warehouse - people get to not only see the items, but touch them and play with them. He has a lot of Mister Toad's Wild Ride, other ride cars, you name it...

So, I err on the side of if it needs to go, let it go to those who can continue to appreciate it.

As for PotC the ride, none of Disneyland or DisneyWorld is ever meant to be finished. Walt himself said so himself. If that was the case, Mister Toad's Wild Ride would still be around and we'd all be riding around in the Nautilus. I'm sure those were untouchables to others who have enjoyed the park. The imagineers themselves said they never got the ride correct until Paris. Many consider the Disneyland version the least correct of the three.

I loved the ride there, but again, I liked the subs.

-- Hurricane

Iron Bess,

Just recommend to those powers that be that they don't throw out all the old stuff, but to store it at least for a little while to see if the new ride sails.

Throw it out... they're loss is my gain as it ends up on the auction block these days. I barely lost out to a set of doors from the ride to that Johnny Depp fella. If I'd known it was him against me I would have pushed the bid more than I did...

-- Hurricane

Yup, I've heard this news before. Been going there during the holidays. It was too damn crowded during Christmas Day and the day after, but the Thursday just before New Years was only okay. Going again tomorrow and most likely Friday as well. The park is pretty dead right now. All the vacationing families with their brats...er, kids have gone.

Wish the same could be said for DisneyWorld. There just doesn't seem to be a downtime there. Right now, it's Aussies, South Americans and African families on summer holiday. I wonder if families from Africa think it strange to come all the way across the ocean to visit Animal Kingdom.

So we still have all the kiddies here---- enjoy!

-- Hurricane