EpcotServo's Updates #3.24: Pandora The Explorer

  Hello everybody and welcome to the Updatetime! Long overdue to technical delays and setbacks, but here at last join me for a look around two kingdoms for two new things: Happily Ever After, and Avatarland! Without further stalling for time, click on-and ENJOY!^^

ENGAGE UPDATE #3.24

EpcotServo's Updates #3.21: Night Lights

Hello everybody, and welcome to another time of UPDATE! Today we have a nice rainy day at Animal Kingdom followed by a look at the new nighttime show, Rivers of Light! All that plus monkeys, dinosaurs, and lots of pictures! ENJOY!^^

ENGAGE UPDATE #3.21

EpcotServo's Updates #2.74-Night, Moon, Universal

Hello peoples! And welcome to Advanced Update & Updates, roll for words!

UNIVERSAL



-Weather UltraCold and windy, Crowds Very Crowded.

-Transformers coming along Transformingly

-It's Mardi Gras, so Mardi Gras stuff.

-The Cyberdyne shop increased it's amount of Doctor Who stuff, still could use more.

-Men In Black still amazing, still could use a rehab though too.

-There seemed to be a Pyro misfire during Cinematic Spectacular, and no fireworks for the rest of the whole show. Still a great show without it!

-Other things I can't remember

OK, that's about it! Onwards, to the PictureZone!

ENJOY!^^

https://picasaweb.google.com/116649166152221553706/EpcotServoSUpdates274NightMoonUniversal?noredirect=1#5847534853666947186

EpcotServo's Updates #2.68-Pushing the Sky

Heya everybodya, and welcome to YET another Update! This has been the biggest week of Updates ever, so click on and enjoy while the Updatin's good!

EPCOT


-Weather good, Crowds nominal

-The Food and Booze has ceased it's Festival-ing

-Jazz

-Test Track's work is startin' to come together from the outside, cycling nightly

-Japan Pavilion

-Words

STUDIOS


-Weather coolish to warmish, Crowds getting Crowded-er

-PIRATES! So the show soft opened for the first time today for guests, and I enjoyed it immensely. Basically it takes the Narnia space which throughout the history of the Studios has usually consisted of no more than a set and a screen. Now the set and the screen have come together, and with a modest budget, the attraction is a worthy little D-Ticket show that won't date and is immensely cool for any Pirate fan. First of all, the Excommunicated Skull from our Pirates is the host of the show, and the entire preshow is a giant cool updated version of the talking skull spiel.

 There's been some comment on the voicework which is fair, but I love the talking skull because it sounds (and looks) like the blue-eyed skeleton robot, Geoff Peterson. Now the one gripe about voicework I would make is the Davy Jones sound alike not sounding too on-model.

 Now the star of the show is that the entire set is one giant lighting/projection piece, so what doesn't capture on video is all the details in the show because of that. (For instance, Jack pops the cap of a bottle with his teeth, and when he spits it out you see it hit the wall) The entire show is like that, and is kind of like a newage Circlevision film. The big picture is nice, but the details make it entertaining for all. The other thing I've heard online is the idea of the participation being stupid, but it really isn't. As someone who hates that kind of thing, it's not anything like that. It's more like applause queues, it just helps make the show a less passive experience.

 Now the actual Jack Sparrow is incredible, and worth a visit for alone. Imagine the queue projections at Forbidden Journey, but the lead of the show with a MUCH better setup and even MORE realistic.(For instance, Jack Sparrow actually has a shadow, a new trick for this using technique.)

Sorry, I've got away a bit. I really like Studios and Pirates, and hated Narnia, so I'm very pleased my prediction of the building sitting empty was turned into something really quite cool. Also neat thing I learned: Pretty much most of the props are from the films. The candles, the Aztec chest, The corset, and pretty much everything else. It's a change of pace from the usual Studios use of props under glass. There are none in the exit hall because they are all used in the ride.  And the Black Pearl is the centerstage of the show, with water crashing over her bow. So that's about it, don't watch the videos, get there early, and enjoy it. It ain't no huge expansion, but it's a significant improvement over the space's usage for the last 20 years, and is a fun little show with a large amount of neat details and technology.

There's nothing to shill, There's nothing to foam, so There's also literally no reason to bitch about this. 

-Tower has an Apollo 13 rig to get the Oxygen from the Bell Tower into the Ride Capsule for the return to Earth.

-They've replaced all the blacklights in RNR and the ride is crazy bright.

-I think that's it

-Is that it?

-Oh yea, see Lincoln, Skyfall, and Wreck-It-Ralph while you're at it

-OK, that's it.

ALRIGHT, off of the words and on to the pictures!

Enjoy!^^

https://picasaweb.google.com/116649166152221553706/EpcotServoSUpdates268PushingTheSky?noredirect=1#5811994261927857058

EpcotServo's Updates #2.57- Solid Summer Society

Hey everyone! Time now for another Update, and even more stuff! Let's get right to the stuff.

UNIVERSAL

-Crowds were light. Yay to the end of Summer!

-I still think the pacing of the new Spiderman really takes it down a notch. Plus now in the backrow you can actually see the scoop behind or in front of you, which used to be impossible. The new timing just misses the beats that the original hit so well.

-They've also gone to Police-State measures regarding glasses at Spiderman. You can neither pick up or drop off glasses on your own, they must be handed to or from you as in olden days. NO TOUCHING! No touching.

-I noticed some water effects in Toon Lagoon operating again for the first time in awhile.

-The face capture effect in Forbidden Journey is operating again, IN COLOR.

-There is loads of construction work going on in Universal I won't have many pictures of. I'm an Update, what did you expect?

-Despicable Me was a rare 10 minute wait and decided to ride again. The second time really solidified my opinion that it's a well done ride based on something that shouldn't have a ride. It just falls flat. Neither really funny nor heartwarming. Once again, there seemed to only be tepid reaction. And the Ride Film just doesn't simulator that well. It's all either too straightline action or too much 3D movement leaving you woozy. It's not bad, but as an avid Universal Simulator Fan I don't think it's one of their best. Should have waited and built a Paranorman Dark Ride. (Go see Paranorman by the way, it's excellent!)

-Mummy Sets fire to your brain, watches it burn as it touches your face

-Men In Black Alien Attack is still awesome

-Also really enjoyed second viewing of Cinematic Spectacular. Great show! I did find the double image projection really strange on the first barge, it seems to be clearer on the second and third.

-Stuff

OK, that's about all. On to the pictures that will forever convince you, that the future...is truly in, my pants!

Enjoy! ^ ^

https://picasaweb.google.com/116649166152221553706/EpcotServoSUpdates257SolidSummerSociety?noredirect=1#5783723184356508002