EpcotServo's Updates #3.19: Rogue Seventeen

   Hey there everybody! It's a new year with new craziness, but craziness goes both ways! Update is here for you, and ready to go! Begin with the clicking, and ENJOY!^^

Engage Update

EpcotServo's Updates 3.11: Captain, My Captain

Hello everybody, and welcome to another Update! Lots to see, so go on and click the clicking thing! And ENJOY!^^

https://picasaweb.google.com/116649166152221553706/EpcotServoSUpdate311CaptainMyCaptain#6225413437184525746

EpcotServo's Updates 3.8: Twist and Shout

Hello everybody, and welcome to an overdue Update! I've been busy at work getting my book ready, so Update time is short. But now it's here, so let's get on to it! Covering many days and pictures, so click on my interfriends! And remember to click on to the very end for a special preview!

ENJOY!^^

https://picasaweb.google.com/116649166152221553706/EpcotServoSUpdates38TwistAndShout#6215975298272250258

EpcotServo's Updates #3.7: The Update Awakens

Hello everyone, and welcome to another all-around time, Update time! Get ready to grow the brand and shift your paradigm, because it's time to click on for action!

STUDIOS


-Weather hot but breezy, storms avoided, and crowds crowded but not overtly insane crazy.

-Star Wars Weekends 2015 is here! Below are thoughts.

-Start of the day was a bit of a hot mess, with wristbands being distributed for Merch and Autographs, but not both. And since the autographs are for later and the merch is for now, there was some chaos at least amongst the voices in my head.

-Merch this year takes up Prop Warehouse/Old AFI Building/and Backlot Tour prop shop. The latter has completely been stripped of all props, so as to wherever all the World of Motion pieces have been taken, I know not.

-Merch is pretty solid this year, but the standout is the awesome Force Awakens T-Shirt, and 25% of the cost goes to UNICEF and Force for Change, which makes it even more awesome.

-The waits to get into the store ranged from pretty bad, to walk right in. Waited for it a few times and it wasn't too bad. I still think I prefer the giant tent, but it's a better use for the building than Frozen, that's for sure.

-In the prop warehouse they have a LEGO building table, where you can build and keep an great Mini-Build. It's free lego so I shouldn't have to say much more to convince you that's awesome.

-Also there's a neat poster for Passholders and DVC members below the tour corridor near the Pixar Place gate, FYI.

-The autographs this year use the American Idol audition rooms, which is kind of a mixed bag. It makes it much more enjoyable if you have a fastpass, but the days of walking by and just seeing the celebrities aren't possible with this setup. I heard you can still get their fakesigned cards at the info booths, but I wasn't able to verify that. I think I'm more on the side of using the audition rooms though, since I always felt bad if your meet and greet ran long, seeing the faces out in the heat behind you in line. So I'm more on the improvement side on this one, reluctantly. 

-Probably my biggest complaint with SWW this year is the one I volley across all of WDW, the relentless upcharging. The upcharged gathering event, the dining events, the hangar thing downsizing backlot express. There's so much great stuff to offer the normal guest there should be no need for such things. Not so much a problem yet, but I can see it getting annoying.

-The Boba Fett mug looked great, but was nowhere to be seen. Not in yet maybe?

-The Stormtrooper intro show is better this year with some added pizzazz. It'll never replace the amazing sight of them on the gate roof, but it's getting there.

-Inside GMR, they've added BADLY out of place chain stanchions on the Anubis statue where the gangster/cowboy grabs the gem. It's OSHA fall protection ruling same as above, and annoyingly bad looking.

-The themed overhang at the exit of GMR is done, but nothing below it yet.

-The Chinese Theater still needs some details back, but the central roof has been cleaned.

-At Star Tours...I WAS FINALLY THE REBEL SPY! Leia told me so...Heh heh heh

-In Sounds Dangerous there's a great 30 Minute recap of Star Wars Rebels to check out, though spoilers if you're already planning to watch it all. If you weren't interested or want to cool down, go see it. Pretty good for a recap episode, plus life-size Ezra and Sabine inside. 

-The Echo Lake ducklings were invading the Indy outdoor cart near Backlot Express, and it was adorable.

-First time seeing the new Star Wars fireworks, and it was AMAZING. WDW Pyro pulls out all the stops. Not to mention...New Troopers. That's right...NEW TROOPERS!

OK, that's about all for the many words. Now on to the many pictures.

ENJOY!^^

https://picasaweb.google.com/116649166152221553706/EpcotServoSUpdates37TheUpdateAwakens?noredirect=1#6150034499719180258

EpcotServo's Updates #2.92- Shindig for Studios

Hey everybody, long time no Updatin'! So let's Update, now!

STUDIOS


-Crowds medium, weather was almost rain but never rained.

-Studios 25th was alot of fun, and much better organized and handled than either Epcot Anniversaries. Plus not to mention I got WAY more interaction with Cast Members wishing a Happy StudiosDay to me than any interaction I had on Epcot's 30th. Nice to see the love!

-Second interaction with FastpassUltimateForm, and it still worked well enough for me.

-Mulch, Sweat, and Sheers has gotten REALLY good. I mean, they've always been good, but darn are they rockin'! Give them a listen.

-No broken effects anywhere to report.

EPCOT


-Crowds light.


-Go see the Flamboyant Cuddlefish at Living Seas.

-Spaceship Earth and Japan Pavilion forever

-The Communicore Paint scheme. Not a fan.

-Flowers and Gardens is still pretty and fun.

OK, that's all for that and stuff, so here's the rest!

ENJOY!^^

https://picasaweb.google.com/116649166152221553706/EpcotServoSUpdates292ShindigForStudios?noredirect=1#6010504375611115042

EpcotServo's Updates #2.89- Let It Snoap

Hey there and Happy Holidays again my friends! Time for one more Update before the new year, to get you in the Spectacle kind of mood! Read on, using the adjacent clicker device on your computer or laptop type device!

STUDIOS


-Crowds mild to heavy, weather mild

-Things are getting so efficient at WDW, that nothing is efficient. Everything is full, utilized, time-managed, and over-thought. It seems like since full integration, the MCP system has everything gridlocked into rigid conformity that makes everything slow and efficient. If ALL the people have Fastpasses it just means every street is packed and every queue is empty and near-stationary. Pbbbbt.

-For instance, Star Tours is now distributing Fastpass windows that are for RIGHT NOW. So weird.

-Spectacle is still great

-STUDIOS!

-SEASONS GREETINGS!

-STUFF!

-And other things, too.

OK, that's about it...Now to the Pictures!

ENJOY!^^

 https://picasaweb.google.com/116649166152221553706/EpcotServoSUpdates289LetItSnoap?noredirect=1#5960367470029414738

EpcotServo's Updates #2.77- Return Of The FunGuy

Hello everyone and let's do a Studios Update! There's no place like HomeParks, so let's get right to it!

STUDIOS


-Star Wars Weekends! Pretty good this year, they've improved the merch and merch area, and traffic was handled smoothly. The stormtroopers no longer on the roof is a bummer, but let's hope with new movies comes new stuff and events as well.

-Midway Mania 5th Anniversary! Happy!

-They added two new Etch-A-Sketches to the queue

-RNR and Tower still great

-Fastpasses Boopers still in place everywhere, and uncovered

-All the effects in Muppets were working

-STAR TOURS!

-Yep, still great.

-Love each other!

OK That's about all for WORDS-Now the VisualCaptures! Main Screen, Turn On!

ENJOY!^^

https://picasaweb.google.com/116649166152221553706/EpcotServoSUpdates277ReturnOfTheFunGuy?noredirect=1#5885835832936166082

EpcotServo's Updates #2.73- My Funny Valentine

Hey there everyone! Got some Valentine's day Studios for you, so let's get right too it!

STUDIOS

-Crowds medium to crowded, weather overcast and drizzly

-The turnstyle-less entry look is creepy. It doesn't help they glow eerily.

-Got to see the second Jack Sparrow intro at Legend of said Captain Jack Sparrow, and it was pretty good. Have to say, still a pretty great little show.

-Midway Mania, Tower, Coaster, Star Tours, Muppets, all still great.

-New AFI exhibit is really shiny and worth checking out. Some really amazing stuff. 

-I was happy to see the Tower shop carrying cool Twilight Zone merch.

-Coaster's Guitar is under Guitarps

-HA

-The electronic ticker crawl at the Wreck-It-Ralph meet and greet is still brilliant. Stop by and read it sometime.

-Bizzare new things appearing in the Muppets pre show. Do not want.

-The show itself though was AMAZING...ALL EFFECTS WORKING. YES. Plus the side wall smoke effect when the theater blows up let off the most amazing amount of smoke I've ever seen, let alone for an effect that rarely works. Burning tires, Balcony arrows, EVERYTHING. It was great.

-Almost done

-Ok, it's done.

BUT wait! It's not done! Now on to the pictures!

ENJOY!^^

https://picasaweb.google.com/116649166152221553706/EpcotServoSUpdates273MyFunnyValentine?noredirect=1#5846403787548332034

EpcotServo's Updates #2.67-Spectacle Session

Hey there folks, and welcome to the second of the Busy Weekend Trilogy, this time the seminal and classic "Empire Of Spectacle Strikes Back!"-Let's kick the beat

STUDIOS


-Crowds were Crowded to Crowded

-Weather was here, wish you were something

-SCOOP! Star Tours is Awesome

-Spectacle has switched on, and is quite spectacle as usual

-The canopy again seems better and better each year

-There needs to be more STAR TOURS specific merchandise, after the Starspeeder there's been nothing that actually says Star Tours.

-Pirates (Non-MK Version) exterior Mural is looking great, and you have the official seal of "Servo doesn't make stuff up [aside from when he's not making stuff up about not-important stuff]" seal to prepare yourself for some good stuff on the inside.

-LIGHTS

-TRON Uprising is a really good show

-Yep

OK, That's about it for the Insider Scoop Magic Mouse Weekly Roundup of all the ParkStuff. It's looking like 2013 is going to be an exciting time for Wisconsin Cheese Enthusiasts. 

LINK START and Enjoy! ^^

 https://picasaweb.google.com/116649166152221553706/EpcotServoSUpdates267SpectacleSession?noredirect=1#5811239289845003074

EpcotServo's Updates #2.58- The Power of Three Parks

Heya everyaaaaaBODY! Ready to Update not one, not two, but THREE parks? Well play a blues riff in B, watch me for the changes, and try to keep up.

ANIMAL KINGDOM

-Crowds were light and weather good at all three parks! YES

-The new finale is shaping up at the Safaris, to be filled with Zebras soonish

-Can we get Countdown all the effects please?

-Both waterfalls at Everest working, no steam, and lots of trees cut to almost nothing. Do not approve.

-The five winds blow through the Animal Kingdom this day!

-ANIMAL KINGDOM IS AWESOME!

STUDIOS

-Got to see the western show on GMR. This is good.

-Wreck it Ralph display at Animation. This is also good.

-RNR preshow is now digital. This was very good.

-Every attraction at Studios now has 3-4 Nextgen Pylons covered up. This was evil.

EPCOT

-No sign of Epcot 30 merch or anything anywhere.

-Strange new big thing blocks up Sea exterior. But they painted it blue anyways...sooooo

-Imagination is closing at 7 again.

-THE LAND! THE LANDSCAPE! They've re-landscaped the Land to mix 2005's natural look with a more trimmed and clean 1982 look. It really looks great. You can see the building, AND there's still trees! Really well done.

-EpcotServo's Updates are made possible by a genreous grant from those who purchase and browse my new EPCOT designs. Please do! 

http://www.redbubble.com/people/epcotservo/collections/157284-centrist

OK, that's about it.

Enjoy! ^ ^

https://picasaweb.google.com/116649166152221553706/EpcotServoSUpdates258ThePowerOfThreeParks?noredirect=1#5787835057958182354

EpcotServo's Updates #2.54- Spaced

Hello and howitgoes everyone, and welcome to a Star Wars Weekends Studios Updates! Lots to go to, so let's go to it already. LIGHTSPEEDOOOOO!

STUDIOS

-Star Wars Weekends 2012! Overall, I have to say one of the best events since 2007. While it may not look like much has changed, there's a slew of great new spiels, amazing new merch to get, and is much better organized and streamlined than ever. The real hit for me was getting to walk into the merch area without a big line, and then have plenty of space inside to shop and walk around. The art gallery is a great idea and you can spend loads of time admiring all the art, plus there's even a sneak preview of upcoming merch again that's great. Combined with the atmosphere of people dressed up, and lots of discussing and enjoyment it almost felt like an actual convention. It was pretty great!

-Speaking of the merchandise, the standout for me is the Star Tours nametag. For $8.95, you get the great nametag with your name in Aurebush and your home planet. (I'm from Bespin, myself.)

-Crowds were mild to extreme, starting nice and slow and picking up to extreme by 11am.

-Fantasyland Model: "I'M HUGE!"

-Star Tours is still incredibly great. Not only a great regeneration of the first, but a more enjoyable, re-rideable, detailed, and overall fun new attraction can not be found here in Orlando at least. Sure, rides like Forbidden Journey are amazing, but a ride like Star Tours 2 is always incredibly fun without being jarring. It's just fantastic, and always a highlight of the day. Even just one sequence changed completely changes the feel of the ride. I can't recommend it enough. Also the queue has not been trashed, a year after opening. WHATTTT (Oh, and if you've been following the Universal Updates-I can now confirm the 3D is much better at Star Tours than it is at the new Spiderman. New spiderman's 3D is darker and has significantly much more pixelization than Star Tours. Probably just because of the larger size of the image, but still-it must be said. Star Tours is still the crispest, cleanest, and has the most depth I've ever seen in a 3D image.)

-Build a Droid. Do it. So much fun. The Astromech figure you build is not only great, the range of choices are really surprising. It's ahoot and ahalf, and a perfect Star Tours souvenir. Don't let the line fool you, either-it actually moves fairly fast and is worth it. Even more so after Star Wars Weekends when the line may be shorter. I expect the demand to always be big though, as this is a great idea. And who doesn't want their own droid?

-Introducing R5-V0: The Tom Servo Astromech. MST3K meets Star Wars.

 http://twitpic.com/9mwvds  http://twitpic.com/9mwyk1

-In a rare Muppet effect working, the steam effect when the Theater explodes was working on the right side of the theater. I haven't seen this in so long I forgot it was a thing.

-Words, etc.

OK, that's about all for now! On to the picture portion of the Tour!

Enjoy! \( ^  ^ )/

https://picasaweb.google.com/116649166152221553706/EpcotServoSUpdates254Spaced?noredirect=1#5745115714808255570

EpcotServo's Updates #2.44- The Update Holiday Special

There's no word like hello for the Holidays! Welcome to another Update show, so let it snow!

STUDIOS

-Crowds large to even larger.

-Star Tours is still, still great.

-I kind of don't like how they replaced the holographic poster at the end of the Muppets hallway with an ad for The Muppets. The movie is great and worth advertising, but that's just crossing the line getting rid of an attraction element for an ad...

-All the lights were working at Spectacle of Lights.

-^See, "Lights not working" always gets more attention...When things work properly it's worth noting too.

-If I didn't know better I'd say that was some veiled form of vague commentary on society.

-But it really wasn't.

-Happy Holidays!

ENJOY!
(^ ^ )

 https://picasaweb.google.com/116649166152221553706/EpcotServoSUpdates244TheUpdateHolidaySpecial#5689505348820093042

EpcotServo's Updates #2.42- Like Love

Heya everyone and welcome to a long overdue WDW Update! Lots of fun was had, so let's start with the words.

ANIMAL KINGDOM

-Crowds were low to mild.

-Expedition Everest was running the proper 4-train profile and was running perfectly.

-Waterfall B was not working again, Steam was working fine though.

-Brand new Everest merch! Every Winter they get great new stuff in, and now they have some new very cool shirts, including a Himalayan Escapes T-Shirt.

-For all that's made over Everest's missing effects, Countdown has more missing longer that are much more important.

-The chasing Carnotaurus wasn't working so they just turned out all the lights. Either that or just a large section of show lighting was broken. It was kind of weird to have a whole long scene of ride just be complete darkness.

-The Jungle Trek is still pretty spectacular.

STUDIOS

-Crowds were extremely high. Packed, even.

-We just went in to ride Star Tours, so no pictures.

-Seriously, the park was jam-packed.

-STAR TOURS is still AMAZING.

-The Starspeeder 1000 figure-sized vehicle is at Studios! Traders had many of them and they were being seriously gawked over. A cast member at checkout shared a cool tidbit, since this was pretty much the first day they were out. The designer of them actually called in and asked how they were doing! They're already selling like hotcakes. Naturally, all Star Tours fans have been waiting for it for years!

-Did I mention the park was like super-packed?

EPCOT

-Epcot crowds seemed mild.

-Full moon out and great weather!

-It was really pretty as well.

-Fun things are fun!

OK, that's about all for words. Pictures now!

Enjoy!
(^ ^ )

https://picasaweb.google.com/116649166152221553706/EpcotServoSUpdates242LikeLove#5684620628517809250

EpcotServo's Updates #2.37- Studios; Gate

Hey there everybody! Been a longtime since we've done a Disney Update, so get ready for just that. Minus the long time, and more like right now. Servo, Go!

STUDIOS

-Crowds were mild. Not bad at all.

-The picture-in-the-eye thing is working great at Tower.

-Muppets is already in dire straights, and is in really bad shape. Lighting yellow, Curtains not functional, and worst of all Penguins stayed raised the entire time, even during show load-in and out. (In olden days, this would mean the show would not operate. They really don't care for show any more, so it doesn't.)

-Please fix Muppets

-The Phineas and Ferb Meet and Greet is the ugliest thing ever added to Studios, including large blue hats.

-They've made the gate signs in Star Tours load blink, I believe to indicate which gates are not fully loaded yet. Another stop-gap measure to look like they can, in any way, effect the hourly capacity? Probably. But they are blink-ey lights now in any case.

-They've also added a Dolby 3-D sign at Unload, I believe probably so Dolby cuts them a deal on the shiny glasses.

-Star Tours is still awesome, especially the Death Star Ending.

EPCOT

-Crowds, again Mild.

-Soarin' is still really cool, though the games have really messed up the Great Hall.

-Yakitori house under heavy walls. Sad, really.

-Japan is really increasing great Ghibli and Anime merchandise, also they have some Durarara! shirts and playing cards now.

-Since when did they make the pre-Illuminations Music Alternative? (As in an Alternative to Good.)

-EPCOT is awesome.

-That is all.

OK, that's all. On to the pictures!

Enjoy!
(^ ^  )

https://picasaweb.google.com/116649166152221553706/EpcotServoSUpdates237StudiosGate#5656338019202040098