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 #3.20- A Baoa Queue

 Join me now on one last adventure to Universal for the time being, and an extra special excursion to the land of EPCOT. All that, a new ride, and a very interesting queue all in store after the click! Read on, and ENJOY!^^

ENGAGE UPDATE 3.20

EpcotServo's Updates #3.16: Ways of the Force

Hey there everybody, and welcome to another UPDATE! Lots of stuff to get to, including Epcot, Frozenstrom, Studios, and Star Wars Spectacular! If you are ready, click on and ENJOY!^^


https://goo.gl/photos/kKafwt8TQ6qcHp3WA

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 #3.9: Disneylands Are Forever

Hello everybody and welcome to a very special part one of an extra special DISNEYLAND UPDATE! Featuring THE RETURN OF THE SERVO!

ENJOY!^^

https://picasaweb.google.com/116649166152221553706/EpcotServoSUpdates39DisneylandsAreForever#6221167508021914642

EpcotServo's Updates #2.97- Dragone with the Wind

 Hey everybody, it's that Updatetime again! Let's get on with the Dragone. Dragon. Whatever.

UNIVERSAL


-Crowds lots and many.

-Heat mostly and very hotly.

-Diagon Alley! So great. Much better than the first Potterlands, and needless to say exceedingly great in many things.

-Only complaints are that there's only like 3 benches in the whole land, and still isn't my Jaws.

-Knockturn Alley, Butterbeer Icecream, and the GlowSnails. Best.

-On first day we went at park opening and had to get a return ticket, last time was around 5 and walked right in.

-Gringott's! Lucked out and got on rested and ready for waiting with a posted wait of 120, only waited an hour and a half. This ride is SPECTACULAR. It may not be my favorite ride ever, but it's without a doubt one of the best rides ever made. It's Universal's least jarring thrill ride that's still scary and cool. It doesn't beat you up and assault your senses like most Universal thrill rides, it's more smooth and controlled and all around thrilling. It's one of the most perfect Dark Rides, and is in the rare caliber of ride with Indiana Jones Adventure, Tower of Terror, and other amazing rides.

-ALL HAIL THE GLOWSNAILS.

-Lots of fun.

-Lots.

OK, that's about all-Now on to the many pictures, and ENJOY!^^

 https://picasaweb.google.com/116649166152221553706/EpcotServoSUpdates297DragoneWithTheWind?noredirect=1#6037667113491208370

EpcotServo's Updates #2.96- Central and Universal

 

Hello everybody and welcome to the time of the Update! Lots to think on, so get thinking on it!

UNIVERSAL

-Crowds mild, weather hot but windy!

-Hogwarts Express soft opening!

-So in the realm of operational fact, the ride runs great and the crew really worked wonderfully in getting people on and out, the waits were short and flew by. I foresee this being how most everyone will parkhop.

-In the realm of opinion, I personally loved it. I'm not really a big Harry Potter fan at all, I have many a peeve about almost everything that isn't contained in books 3 and 4, but I got goosebumps seeing the train pull up for the first time! It's really cool, and what's best/most interesting is that the experience itself is calm, sedate, and enjoyable. It's not loud and brash like every single other Universal thing, as I have come to love them for. It's really amazing, and I can't recommend it enough.  Second favorite Universal ride still in operation, right after....

-Men in Black! Still could use a rehab, had some synching and AV problems. But still, I love it.

-Frozen Butterbeer still the drink of choice.

-Once again I find my opinion steadfast that they ruined Spiderman. The pace of the ride is all bjorked up, and it's not the beat-for-beat perfection it used to be. The graphics looking better doesn't save it for me, I really loved the original's rhythm.

-Yep, that's about it.

-Except for the pictures!

OK, that's about all-now on to said pictures!

ENJOY!^^

  https://picasaweb.google.com/116649166152221553706/EpcotServoSUpdates296CentralAndUniversal?noredirect=1#6031588110985941346

EpcotServo's Updates #2.94- Gem and the Holograms

Hey everybody and welcome to another Update! As always, we start with the words and whatnot!

STUDIOS


-Weather hot, crowds medium.

-Star Wars Weekends! Organized pretty well this year from what I could tell, though the merch was better in the tent than the soundstage. Met Steve Blum, the voice actor of Spike Spiegel which was amazing!

-Student film groups were filming on the Streets of America which was interesting!

-Also they were filming Rebels B-Roll.

KINGDOM


-Crowds medium, weather was night. Night weather.

-Fastpass still working alright, came in around 8 and got Fastpasses for Mansion at 9 and Big Thunder at 10:45-11:45.

-Astro Orbiter is Astro-gone.

-Mine Train! Really fun. Got two rides in, and best of all two people jumped out of our car at load on the second ride, so we got to just really get it swinging side to side (yo) which was alot of fun. My only gripe is the interactive portions of the queue, which are nice but feel like an inescapable playground. The outdoor queue is really nice though, so there's that. It ain't no 20K, but I guess it's my favorite thing in the whole expansion.

-Got to ride Mine Train twice, Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, Pirates, Big Thunder, Pooh, and Mad Tea Party twice. Nine rides in two hours, whichisnotbadifIdosaymyself!

-Oh, nice things are nice

-No flash pictures in the mine thankfully, but one or two people drinking from the musical thing. THERE'S A DRINKING FOUNTAIN RIGHT NEXT TO IT!@   -   @

-Peoplemover is under rehab. Meh.

-For fun.

OK, that's about all, except for the rest of it!

ENJOY!^^

 https://picasaweb.google.com/116649166152221553706/EpcotServoSUpdates294GemAndTheHolograms?noredirect=1#6026380522872602386

EpcotServo's Updates #2.83- The Midnight Sun

Hello and welcome to the Update! Please step all the way inside making room for the internet behind you.

UNIVERSAL


-Construction is underway

-SimpsonsLand is pretty much done

-Hot. Not too crowded. But really, really hot.

-The World's End is in theaters now. See it.

-Get out of the heat.

-It took me awhile to get this Update up, even though it's short.

-Sorry.

OK, that's about all for this biz, now on to the Picturefest!

ENJOY!^^

https://picasaweb.google.com/116649166152221553706/EpcotServoSUpdates283TheMidnightSun?noredirect=1#5917616544850910114

EpcotServo's Updates #2.81- Wild Horses

HELLO everybodyaa and welcome to another Update, back at KSC again-Why so soon? BECAUSE NEW ATTRACTION IS WHY! On to it, then!

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER


-Weather Hot to Rainy, Crowds more crowded than usual

-Grand Opening of Atlantis was great and open to the Public instead of only MediaTypes, meaning UpdateCoverage which is special.

-Not only that, all guests got special opening weekend programs commemorating the goings ons.

-One such goings ons was all the Private Sector space companies giving out freebies and showcasing all the new systems going in place. This was really cool and much appreciated!

-So ATLANTIS is without a doubt *THE* Florida attraction of the year. Fantasyland and Transformers are nice, Penguinland I'm sure has nice things about it (Penguins), but Atlantis is one DARN fine attraction by any standard. Not only is it something worth seeing, it's a giant pavilion with hours of content to see and do, ASIDE from the near 20 minute show leadup, the GREAT ride that is Shuttle Launch Experience inside, and the main attraction of seeing the Shuttle itself. So wrap all that up with a tidy EPCOT-esque narrative and mission, really incredible new music and lighting throughout every stage of it, and mix in the bundle of emotions you carry into it from years of watching the Shuttles in action, plus top it off with a giant new marquee exterior, and there's just no way anything opening this year in Orlando can top it. KSC may not be your first thought in themed entertainment, but you owe yourself a visit to this show, because this and the Saturn V Center are actually two of the best attractions we have in Florida.

OK, on to the Pictures and such stuff!

ENJOY!^^

https://picasaweb.google.com/116649166152221553706/EpcotServoSUpdates281WildHorses?noredirect=1#5895411013004614658

EpcotServo's Updates #2.79-Bigger, Badder, Botter

Hey everybody, it's summer! There's a park! Let's visit!

UNIVERSAL

-Transformers Passholder Preview Hour was a bit of a cluster, but they did their best to keep it together. Kudos to the event staff and ride crew for keeping calm under pressure!

-The ride is still awesome, but after getting one perfect ride in, both other rides were pretty majorly wonky. The best of which, bad block timing and sound dropping out, but then in the Lift down it rotated backwards from the screen (Forward position since the ride vehicle itself is traveling backwards for the entirety of the second floor) so basically getting to see both levels as you travel downwards, as well as the AMAZING lift mechanisms in the center. Yeah, it was really cool. I love that stuff.

-Universal rides without sound are hilarious, because you can tell how loud they are normally. It's like bobbing and rocking in a big quiet empty room.

-The crew was really superb keeping their calm even when everything went Fubar with the ride. Some bad quick saves were upsetting people, but offering rerides to everyone will do that, and that was a nice gesture but really gunks up the works.

-Men In Black is still my favorite Universal ride since Jaws closed.

-Hot. Stinky. Crowded.

-Mummy and MIB walk-ons are best. Then leave, quickly!

-I don't usually advertise, but seeing as this is the last Update for awhile most likely with the crowds descending, please check out my RedBubble designs, including a new Universe and You one for fellow Alien Attack fans! http://www.redbubble.com/people/epcotservo

-Words.

OK. that's all for words-now the pictures!

ENJOY!^^

https://picasaweb.google.com/116649166152221553706/EpcotServoSUpdates279BiggerBadderBotter?noredirect=1#5889083225228522226

EpcotServo's Updates #2.78- Robot Rollout

Hello yet again everybody, and let's top off an Updatetastic week with newstuffs at Universalplace! Let's watch!

UNIVERSAL


-Weather was hot and schtanky, followed by Afternoon Rain-Type Storms

-TRANSFORMERS! Is awesome. Definitely a perfect Universal ride and really good. It's pretty much just Spiderman, but with Robots so it's more interesting. Definitely not the best ride ever-It doesn't have many practical sets at all,and Star Tours still has better 3D and display (Note: Both made by ILM, so still flawless) but a solid Universal Studios addition and much better, a needed foray with giant robots and great for Transformers fans.

-STARSCREAMM YOU COWARD!

-Also note hilarious Universal Pre-Shows, wherein they threaten you with Jail for trashing the queue, that everyone will think less of you if you chicken yet, and a screaming crazy guy telling you FOR THE LOVE OF GOD DON'T RIDE THIS RIDDDEEE! (Best)

-Simpsons Fast Food Place is pretty good, didn't eat there yet but Buzz Cola was tasty and the area nice. Not amazing, but nice.

OK, that's all for wordings-Now Picturing!

ENJOY!^^

https://picasaweb.google.com/116649166152221553706/EpcotServoSUpdates278RobotRollout?noredirect=1#5886202526286506546

EpcotServo's CALIFORNIA Updates-Part 2: Livin' In DCA

OUR STORY SO FAR...

"It's Vacation time!"

"There's Disneyland!"

"Let's go in!"

And now the continuing saga of many pictures with captions...This is:

EPCOTSERVO'S CALIFORNIA UPDATES: YOU CAN (ALWAYS) RETURN

(Part 2: Livin' In DCA)

The longest Update ever uploaded to get to, so get to it before it gets to you!

ENJOY!^^

https://picasaweb.google.com/116649166152221553706/EpcotServoSCALIFORNIAUpdatesPart2LivinInDCA?noredirect=1#5880225263973415826

EpcotServo's CALIFORNIA Updates:Part 1-DLR FTW

Hello everybody and welcome to another epic series of CALIFORNIA UPDATES! We've got a tremendous amount of amazing to get to, so without further ado, click for Part 1 of EpcotServo's CALIFORNIA Updates: You Can (Always) Return!

ENJOY!^^

https://picasaweb.google.com/116649166152221553706/EpcotServoSCALIFORNIAUpdatesPart1DLRFTW?noredirect=1#5877992014196995298

EpcotServo's Updates #2.70-There and Update Again...

HEY everybody and welcome to another giant Updatestuffs, and before I can get to the getting of it all, we just have to get to it!

ANIMAL KINGDOM


-Weather good, Crowds s'alright

-Steam and both waterfalls working on Everest

-New Zebra finale on the safaris is nice, but not really a finale. Personally I'd like a narrative back.

-Merry DAKmas

STUDIOS


-Weather good, crowds a bit more crowded-er

-Wreck It Ralph meet n' greet seems to be popular

-Fastpass Cubes and new Fastpass Greeter screens on and active

-I have to say, GMR and American Adventure are probably the best total showpieces WDI has ever done.

-New Star Tours still still great, got a great profile. Had a discussion on the MOST cannon ride profile and decided on Han, Podracing, Leia, and Death Star.

-Spectacle is Spectacular

-The turnstiles are gone at Muppets, now just EvilFastpassCubes and a new cheaper looking console.

-Muppets was looking great though, everything was working perfectly except for the burning tires. (Though the effect was on, there was an air pressure release just sans smoke)

-Jack Sparrow is still a really great little show, if you're looking to do it the best time seems to be the evening, during Fantasmic or near closing. Again, videos don't do the show justice, it's all about the loads of great details in the projections and the environment around you. Still not seen the alternate Jack show, every other show has a different part of the show featuring Jack.

EPCOT


-Weather Cloudy, Crowds Crowded to Crowded-er

-New Test Track is open, as as I said last Update it's AMAZING. All the effects were working, and after a delayed opening it was about an hour wait to the design room, and 20 minutes to design and board. The post show still has a few bugs here and there, but is up and running and a load of fun. I seriously love this rehab. It's everything TRON and EPCOT and wonderful. See it, enjoy it.

Speaking of seeing and enjoying-On to the pictures, and...

ENJOY!^^

 https://picasaweb.google.com/116649166152221553706/EpcotServoSUpdates270ThereAndUpdateAgain?noredirect=1#5820091953515100146

EpcotServo's Updates #2.69-The Most Wonderful Time of The Year

IT'S THE MOST...WONDERFULLLL TIMEEE OF THE YEAAARRRR! And Merry Holidays to you all, we got a short and sweet Kingdom stuff for you, so click on!

KINGDOM


-OK, so you never really have to click on, just keep reading. Doesn't sound as cool, does it?

-Crowds were low, weather windy

-Parade Taping was fun. Of course, it's all live...in your region.

-Peoplemover seemed to be a little bjorked, with a large gap and the trains at Load rushing up and bumping on to the next train with a jolt. Strange.

-They've made the Mermaids at Pirates show up on the right side of the flume a little more. It's still really cool, but I'm not sure if it was better when it projected less. But then again, there was one whole ride last time I didn't even see any, so it was needed. And is still really cool.

-Little Mermaid is still going fine

-It's a tiny world, it seems

-Finally saw Country Bears. Really didn't like. It's like the reader's digest version, there's just a whole lotta' charm and wit lost in those five minutes they edited out and the show doesn't hold up as well ironically, being the reverse effect as intended.

-BUT...AHolycrap, new Test Track is AWESOME.

-I mean, really, REALLY AWESOME.

-I hope to have pictures and further words on how fantastic it is, later.

-More then.

-Hello!

-Pictures now.

OK, that's about it for that-Continue onwards!

And ENJOY!^^

https://picasaweb.google.com/116649166152221553706/EpcotServoSUpdates269TheMostWonderfulTimeOfTheYear?noredirect=1#5817551854421906994


EpcotServo's Updates are made possible thanks to viewers LIKE YOU! 

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 #2.67-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 #2.64-Announce and Rollout

Hey there peoples of peopledom, it's time for more Update, so GLITCH: REBOOT!

UNIVERSAL


-ANNOUNCEMENT! The announcement was pretty fantastic. Well teased in the evening by soundbites of a transmission interrupting the show announcements. It was pretty cool, and I love these one-day-only-had-to-be-there-events like this. I wish all parks would do it like this and announce to the PEOPLE of the park rather than beyond a closed off event-area. It should be for the peeps in the park as much as the media!

-I'm pretty excited for Transformers. I can understand an intense and rational apathy of aversion to the movies, but Transformers are pretty darn cool. They just are. Giant Robot Charter of 1862 says so. You should be excited for this.

-Cinematic Spectacular lasers are laseriffic and make the show even better

-Horror makeup show is a great little classic Universal gem to see every now and again.

-LoudSpinnyJumbotron, where did you go, and why is it quieter at CityWalk now?

-The walkaround Transformers will be worth your time as well.

-Wreck-It-Ralph is in theaters. GO SEE IT. You WILL enjoy. IMMENSELY.

-Crowds were light, Weather seasonably cool, Stars out at night, +/- Cloudy or bright 

-Universal, I'm happy for you, and ImmaLetYouFinish, but Firehouse Subs makes the BEST BROWNIES of ALL TIME.

-There are like SO many cranes you don't even know

-I forgot what I was talking about

-Oh yeah, Disney bought Star Wars was a thing happened

-Motorcycle was working again at Terminator since last I updated it was not. 

-Wait, what?

OK, That's about all for that. To THIS you boldly go!

ENJOY!^^

https://picasaweb.google.com/116649166152221553706/EpcotServoSUpdates264AnnouceAndRollout?noredirect=1#5806084831623433426