When we finally arrived, we met up with them there, where they were exercising their favorite sport: People Watching. I don’t get the same thrill they do out of it, but at least they were having a great time, and that is what matters.  We sat down with them and began hashing out what attractions we would encounter throughout the day. Once the plan was struck, they each handed me their tickets to get fast passes to Test Track.

Test Track was mobbed!! It was no wonder since it had just opened to the public recently after having been closed for a complete makeover since April 2012. There was a large, lighted sign indicating that there wouldn’t be any fast pass distribution, and when I approached the line that stood outside of the ride, I determined that there wouldn’t be any chance of riding it today.

My wife and I had the opportunity to ride it before it officially opened, and we saw the vast extent of the queue inside the doors. To see that many people standing outside, waiting for an opportunity to experience the new, and improved, Test Track was unbelievable. I would estimate the wait time to have been around 150 minutes (That’s 2 ½ hours). Having already experienced it, we had no problem walking away from it.

We walked on over to the World Showcase, as we exited the Test Track stampede. It was nearing lunch time, and we were more than ready for it. Tutto Italia was awaiting just a short distance away. Italian food, friendly Italian wait staff, and an exceptional aura of fine dining was all we needed to make it a fulfilling experience. Well, that and the portions to leave us either stuffed or satisfied, depending on how well we controlled our intake (something I need to work harder at in the future).

We exited the restaurant, and worked our way over to the American Pavilion. One of the favorites, on my wife’s list, is watching the American Adventure. A few years ago, my wife and I took the Backstage Tour. It explained the inner working of WDW, and this was one of the stops along the way. We were able to see the mechanics of how this show worked, how the stage moved, and how it moved fluently to make the show entertaining several times per day. Unfortunately, I had never seen the show (until the next year), and really didn’t grasp the entire concept of it as they explained each part of the show. If you ever want to see how the magic is made, I highly recommend this tour.

After the show, my wife and I walked to a kiosk and signed on as secret agents with Agent P. I would tell you our agent identification, but that would be dangerous, as we made some pretty recognizable impacts in the case of saving Agent P from the diabolical Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz. He had platypus-napped our beloved Agent P, and it was our mission to discover his intent, rescue Agent P, and foil the diabolical plans for world domination. We had to move swiftly and accurately in an undisclosed area of the World Showcase, follow up on clues left by the evil doctor, locate Agent P and provide a method of escape, and then join forces to wash away any chance he might have to act on his criminal plan. We saved the world, and accomplished our missions successfully. The evil doctor got away, but we will battle him again another day. We were honorably discharged from our secret agent duties and disposed of our communicator, in yet another undisclosed location, and walked away proud and exhausted of our successes. This is something kids of all ages will have fun doing, and it involves all of World Showcase if you devote the time to it.

Something we never seem to have time to do is explore. This trip, we swore we would take the time to do this. Sure, we miss out on some of the rides, but I find enjoyment in seeing things that most people walk by without noticing. I want to see everything, and that is probably the number one reason, for me, that I return to WDW each year. There’s so much stuff missed to those that hurry through the parks to ride rides, get to dining reservations, or chase after larger attractions. We explored the World Showcase until we felt satisfied enough to go see other things we had planned. There are so many side paths that I want to walk down, just to see where they go, and what they hold. I take many pictures of things that hold no significant value to others, but I find interesting.

We hit a few of the small shops and other Disney stores along the way around the World, until we found ourselves in front a stage where a show was about to start. We watched “Off Kilter” perform for about the first 20 minutes of their musically entertaining show, involving two electric guitars, one electric drum, and a set of bagpipes. It was a really exciting show that had the crowd clapping and singing along, but my feet couldn’t tolerate standing in one spot any longer, so we walked on.

Every time my wife is at Epcot, she is drawn to one store, in particular: Mouse Gear. She has to go in there and the extent of time is typically 30-60 minutes. I ended up walking outside, because shopping isn’t a favorite pastime of mine. I went out a side entrance of the store, and found myself on a path I hadn’t encountered before. I could see Test Track in the distance, and decided to make my way to see the line, hoping it had calmed down a bit. Along the way, I found a small “U” shaped path that branched off of the empty one I was already on. I turned to follow it. There really wasn’t anything special about it, except for a power box with a LOT of coiled up cables around it, littering the place. The plant life was extraordinary to me, but I like gardening and find that plants that grow in Florida to be unique and picture-worthy. I followed the path back to the main empty one, and proceeded on over to Test Track.

The crowd! Oh, how it had grown. It has now been confirmed, again, that the chance of riding this new, old ride was not going to happen. I took a couple of pictures of the mob scene, then turned back to find my wife in the store. As I approached the store, and that hidden path I had just been down, I found another hidden path. I didn’t walk down it, nor did I have any want to go down there. It was a small path, about 18” in width, partly covered by foliage that branched out over it. In the back of the path was a worn, blank dirt spot where some of the soil had been “kicked” onto the sidewalk itself. There was a sign at the beginning of the path, and it dawned on me… People that use the services of a guide dog use this path. The sign showed a picture of a guide dog. This must be the potty trail for dogs, within the park! I guess the dogs have to have a public toilet as well, eh? Yeah, I think I’ll just leave this path be. I know its intent, and I had no business disturbing its contents.

I caught up to my wife, and having not made a single purchase, we went out the same door I had used to explore the Test Track line. I showed her the guide dog path, and she, having been to WDW 21 times, had never seen that either. That goes to show that you can vacation at WDW time after time, and still see things that you have never seen before. This place it full of so many things and some of those things change, so it’s never ending. We continued down the path, and she, too, observed the mob at Test Track, and then we went into Club Cool. For those of you that haven’t ever been to Club Cool, and you finally get the opportunity; I urge you to sample the Beverly, and then comment about it below. I want to know your opinion on this drink. For those of you who have already been there, and tried this Coca-Cola product, Shhhh.

We left Club Cool, and visited Art of Disney. I really like seeing the art hanging in this gallery. It’s just awesome and breathtaking to see how artists render their view of Disney through their work. I took some more pictures of these masterpieces, and then left the store. We walked to and rode Spaceship Earth, and then walked out of the park for the day. We filled the day doing exactly what we wanted, when we wanted, and how we wanted. It was a relaxing day at Epcot.

Because we went into the Magic Kingdom on our break day, to observe the parade and fireworks, that meant we had one less day on our park tickets. We went to the concierge desk to upgrade our ticket for another day. The guy behind the desk said that would be no problem, and proceeded to hitting the keys on his keyboard. As he ceased the keystrokes, he looked up and read what the notice on the monitor had said, “One or more of these tickets was/were ineligible for upgrade. What?!? Well, it seems that the system upgrade that the Disney resorts implemented the day before rendered all current tickets ineligible for upgrade, and now we were facing that issue. Jeff worked some magic and sold us a one day pass for the same price as it would have been to just upgrade the ticket. So, instead of paying full price for a one day ticket, we got a 70% markdown per ticket. Awesome! Let the vacation continue! It turns out that the system thought we had stayed past the 14-day limit, but we were actually on day 7; go figure.

We returned to our room, took off our overly used shoes, and began the relaxing phase of our adventurous day. Tomorrow: Hollywood Studios, and yet another adventure. As we unwound, with television and constant uploading of pictures and videos, we remain, to this day, WDW or Bust. Thank you for reading and following this blog. If you have any comments of question, by all means leave a comment or email me at dave@wdworbust.net. Thank you and have a magical day!

Click on the image to check out all of Tommy’s photos!

This a must see for anyone who loves cars – especially fast cars and would like to take the opportunity to design the automobile of the future.

EPCOT is bigger, better and more exciting. And World Showcase is as beautiful as ever.

Thanks to our hosts at Walt Disney World for giving us the opportunity to experience all the fun.

And good luck to everyone. K-HiTS would love to send you here. Keep listening for details.

Tommy Edwards

Well, after watching the barrage of videos released the past couple of days, let’s just say that Test Track 2.0 is now the best attraction in Epcot.  I say “now” because I have always believed that Soarin’ was a better attraction.  It’s easy to say Soarin’ is just a fancy simulator, but Soarin’ captured the essence of The Land pavilion perfectly.  Test Track, while elaborate and unique, always seemed a tad bit outdated.  It was hard to claim that Test Track was Future World’s signature attraction, let alone Epcot’s, but with the unveiling of Test Track 2.0, it sits firmly at the top.

I suppose I should reserve judgment until I actually experience the attraction first-hand, but after viewing the videos today, I am ecstatic!  The main feature of the attraction is the ability to design your own “sim-car.”  After watching videos of the design process, it is amazing how many customizable components they are.  As for the actual ride, the track remains the same.  You probably won’t notice, as the rest of the ride has completely changed.  The ride is unlike anything you’ve ever seen; in a word, futuristic.  With this redo, Test Track is finally worthy of being in Future World.

Now, to the average day guest, this redo may be lost on them.  Many don’t stop to truly let atmosphere sink in. But that’s what truly makes Disney World special.  In fact, many people probably will miss the old Test Track.  Heck, I’m going to the pre-show (one of the best) and the narration throughout (RIP seatbelt check lady).  But as a fan of atmosphere,setting, and detail, the things that make Disney World stand apart from other theme parks, Test Track 2.0 is a vast improvement.

A NOISE abatement notice served against the operators of the Longcross Test Track has been quashed.

Longcross Studios

 

Representatives of Crest Nicholson Operations Limited, which manages the track, and 6th Gear, a company that runs driving experience days at the site, were delighted as the notice originally served by Runnymede Borough Council in March was overturned.

 

It would have limited the number of track days held at the former DERA circuit in Chobham Lane.

Judge Terence English announced his decision at Staines Magistrates’ Court on Friday (November 30).

“The onus is on the complainant to show service of the notice was not justified,” he said.

“Having read all the evidence, [Crest Nicholson Operations and 6th Gear] have discharged that burden and these appeals are allowed. The notices are quashed.”

An application by the council during the appeal hearings to transfer the notice to the relevant company was rejected with it being lifted.

During the appeal, the court heard how environmental health officers compared noise levels from the track during 6th Gear events to days when it was not operating in order to offer a baseline in the area.

Judge English defined this comparison as “misapplied”, as well as describing a survey sent out to 137 neighbouring residents as “not totally neutral”.

“I accept some of the criticism aimed at the survey,” he said. “It was not totally neutral but the council was absolutely right to canvass views of the residents.”

Out of 137 surveys sent out by Runnymede asking about noise from the track, 57 replies were received, with 44 of those registering complaints.

As part of the appeal, residents’ accounts were read out including one that stated: “We have to keep windows and doors closed, even in the hot summer months.”

To support its case, the council showed footage posted online on YouTube from 6th Gear events, in which a speedometer showed speeds the cars were being driven at, although it was unclear whether these were in miles or kilometres per hour.

An application for costs from Reuben Taylor on behalf of Crest Nicholson Operations Limited and 6th Gear Experience was refused.

Thanks for reading!

So, Epcot is the destination for our second day of exploration adventure. We decided to sleep in a bit in an attempt to have more energy to tour the World Showcase a bit more. However, we were interested in learning more about Test Track and riding Soarin’ again as well. Upon entering the park, I walked over to the Land Pavilion and obtained the fast passes for Soarin’. When I met back up with the women, we went to Spaceship Earth. Although Epcot was the best park to attend today, there were still crowds. The queue line extended past the rails, and really thwarted any good mood we had entered with. Despite the long line, it moved rapidly and we were on the ride in less than three minutes.

Spaceship Earth has been a long time favorite, and the end of the ride is really appealing. There’s always a laugh awaiting the result of the series of questions asked, and the answers provided by the guests. Just remember to smile at the camera at the beginning of the ride.

After we exited the ride, we walked into the Innoventions building to find something to do while escaping the throngs of cheerleaders that consume every inch of the paths. There wasn’t really a whole lot to do in this building, but we made attempts to slam some doors, twist some cables, and beat up an old boom box. The stuff in there could have been more fun if the mood was a bit lighter. Sum of All Thrills was all backed up, and I walked away from it. We left the building after discussing what we wanted to do next.

We headed over to Mission Space. A few years back, I rode the more intense side and loved it. Last year, I rode the orange side again, but it ruined my entire afternoon with feelings of nausea and dizziness.  This year, Green Side it is. I can handle the less intense stuff alright, and that will be what I stick with. By the way, despite the intensity, we made it to Mars, with a little hiccup in the landing. But we made it, none-the-less, and the training was a crashing success.

When we left Mission Space, I walked over to Test Track to see if I could get anymore information on the ride. Of course, they said that the opening was strictly on December 6^th, and I should return on that day if I would like to ride it. I advised them that the last day we would be in Epcot would be on the 5^th, and if I really wanted to ride it, I would have to wait until next year. They didn’t budge, but one of the cast members said to keep checking, in case the superiors decided to open up a soft opening anyways.

Encouraged by the invitation to check back, I walked away disappointed that I still couldn’t see the ride. Oh well, the show must go on. We went through the second Innoventions building, walked past the fire truck, past the training arena for Segways, and then I stopped at the video games. I played the Brave game until I couldn’t figure out what else to make the girl shoot at or cut down. I met back up with my wife and the family at the exit, where we sat and enjoyed the peace and quiet for a bit longer, before going to lunch.

We headed back to the Land Pavilion to ride “Living with the Land” followed by Soarin’. While on the boat ride, we encountered some guests that were challenging to deal with. Some splashed water all over other guests, a kid was telling her mom to shut up, and some played with the sand in the greenhouse, in plain site of signs that said “Please Do Not Touch The Sand.” Yep, challenging, but easily overcome with a flight over California. The flight didn’t solve all of our problems, but it was a definite step in the right direction.

We had a dining reservation at Le Cellier. This, sadly, will probably be the last time we dine there for a while, as they will become a signature dining experience for all meals as of January 1, 2013. The significance of this is that it will then take two dining credits to eat there. But, while we were there today, we consumed pretzel bread, salad, and Cheddar Cheese Soup. We followed the appetizers with pork chops, Gnocchi, and Filet Mignon over Risotto.  For dessert, we polished off Crème Brule and chocolate mousse. Stuffed and needing some exercise, we left the building. It was time to return to the resort for a much needed break.

On the way out, the women decided to walk through a few stores, while heading for the exit. Since I like to take a couple of pictures here and there, I remained outside in the hustle and bustle to get some scenic shots of the park. As we got closer to the exit, it dawned on me to go see what was happening around Test Track. My wife, mother-in-law and aunt-in-law entered Mouse Gear, and I approached the Test Track area. The attendant standing outside the attraction was different than the two that had been there earlier in the morning. Determined to get more information, I approached him, gained his attention and asked if there would be a soft opening today, or anytime soon.

If you read the breaking news post from earlier, you’d know how this went. If not, here’s the link to it. You’ll find the news interesting, especially if you plan to visit the park tomorrow.

After being announced as a party of two, and shown the way in, my wife and I took in every sight we could. The cast members in the area pointed us to the standby line, as this is what we wanted to do. The cast member handed us a little white card, then showed us the correct line to enter.  There’s a difference in experience between the standby line and the fast pass line, in that as you wait in the standby line, you get to design your own vehicle to test.  In the fast pass line, you choose a pre-designed car. There’s so much to see through the entire queue. The theme is 100% different than the queue of old. Instead of the factory setting, it now looks state-of-the art, with hands on things to do. Touch screens are there to play with aerodynamics and other traits necessary in making an efficient vehicle for the roads.

Once inside the “Pre-show” area, hold your card up to the scanner, and then begin building your car or truck. You can choose the aerodynamics, size, wheels, engine, color, decals, width, spoilers, fins, etc. There are a lot of options, and when you have built your vehicle the countdown begins to get you out on the Test Track. The resulting queue is familiar, in that you hold your card up to the scanner where it shows you a picture of the car you designed, and then enter the vehicle (now painted blue and black). Buckle your seat belts, and then go have them tested before you embark on the ride. The track is identical to the old one, but the lighting and theme is completely different.

It was cool to imagine the old ride, and compare it to the one you see. The result of the refurb is a definite improvement. It was good to get back out in the open air, doing intense speeds around the track. The hopeful news that it could quite possibly be open tomorrow morning is encouraging as well, since we will be back in Epcot on the fifth. I’d like to see it in full operation, open to all of the guests. The post ride showroom is set up differently as well, with several hands on, interactive games and picture opportunities. You can race your car with other guests or become a show room model with the new cars or with the car you had just designed and tested. Overall, Disney did a great job on the refurbishment.

We exited the ride, and I caught a couple more shots of the entryway and the Test Track Car model off to the side. My wife let it all sink in, and she was excited to have been able to ride and experience it before it actually opened. We look forward to riding it again before we leave for home, at the end of the week.

We left the park after this, and although it was later than we wanted to leave, the ride on Test Track was a definite plus on the overall mood of the day.

After the one hour break, we drove to the Boardwalk Villas and had the car valet parked so we could explore the Boardwalk  and the resorts around it. We wanted to catch the Illuminations fireworks tonight, but that was scratched out as the night became longer. We visited the Boardwalk Inn, where they had a gingerbread house so large that there were cast members working inside of it. We followed that visit with a trip to the Beach Club Resort, and they had a gingerbread carousel, large as life. It’s amazing how much went into building each of the pieces they had on display. There’s  a video on youtube that shows just how much really goes into the construction of these awe-inspired displays.

After the Beach Club, we went to the Yacht Club, and there I sat. The women checked out the gift shop, and after some time, I decided to see if they were going to make it out of the store. They were just checking out, so we headed back to the boardwalk. Before we left for the night, they went into another store. Now, the thing with the stores is that we window shop until our designated “break day,” where we head down to Downtown Disney to make our purchases. Although we can get most of what we want there, the few things that are resort or park dedicated, we purchase on the fly, knowing we won’t be able to get them at any other park or attraction. So, we window shop. I was briefly mesmerized by a juggling/balancing act on the Boardwalk, so I stayed outside of the store and watched the show. When they were done shopping, they came and got me. We went back to get the car and return to the resort.

The definite highlight was the ride and news on Test Track, and the downer is the increased crowds due to the cheerleading competitions this week. Oh well, it’s something new to cope with, and it can be done. Until our next adventure, we’re WDW or Bust!

Doorway into Test Track 2012

Test Track has been on the mind of many guests of Epcot and Walt Disney World bloggers lately. On November 29^th, my family and I went to Epcot, and made it a point to see about any soft openings. I was refused at the door, and reminded that the official opening day is December 6^th. They said they were excited for the changes within, but there wouldn’t be any soft openings, outside of that for cast members and their friends and family.

Today was our second day at Epcot, and one of the first things I did was approach the cast members standing outside the wooden barriers at the entrance to Test Track. They repeated the same information about the absence of soft openings, and the target date to be opened is December 6^th. One of the cast members said to check back periodically, as there might be a possibility of a soft opening later in the day.

As we were making our way out of the park for a much needed break, my wife and her mom and aunt went into Mouse Gear while I went to the area of Test Track. There was a different person standing outside of the barriers now, and he was alone. I approached him and, again, asked about the possibility of a soft opening. He, again, said there wasn’t a soft opening planned, but the opening day was scheduled for December 6^th. I told him we wouldn’t be back in Epcot after December 5^th, thanked him for his time, and let him know I was a guest blogger of wdworbust.net.

I walked away, looking to rejoin my wife, and then leave for a few hours. While trying to get an internet signal, to update readers with the status of Test Track, to date, the cast member I had just spoken to approached me from my blind side. He gained my attention, asked if there were others with me and where they were. I said that they were in Mouse Gear. He advised me to go get them, and he would get us onto Test Track, through a door in the back. My phone went straight to the contact list, and was calling my wife. She met me at the door, and we met back up with the cast member, Pat.

As we walked to the back entrance to Test Track, he quickly instructed us on the standby line and the fast pass line, what to expect, then some other news that perked my interest. He said that the upgrade to Test Track was complete; the only thing left to do was to remove the wooden barrier at the main entrance. He said they are really excited, and expect to move the date of opening from December 6^th to the early morning of December 3^rd. Yep! Tomorrow morning!! He said to be there and ready for the possibility of an opening change. He said he wouldn’t confirm it, or make it official, but that is the expectation of Walt Disney World.

The breaking news is the high probability of the opening day of Test Track to occur on Monday, December 3, 2012. If you’re going to be in the park, please stop by here and leave a comment on whether this happened or not, but that is the latest I have heard thus far. If you wanted to email the information to me, you can do that by sending it to dave@wdworbust.net.

We then parted ways and rode with another group of individuals through the ride. I’ll give my experience more detail in my trip report, but I do know that there are videos out there already that show the ride from the reporters’ point of view. I did record a video as well, but I have been having a lot of technical difficulties as of late. Pat said that the videos really don’t do it justice, and Epcot is ready to open it up as early as tomorrow morning.

Check back later for the daily trip report. Until then, we are WDW or Bust!

On our way to the office, Anna asked me to hand her driver’s license to her. I looked where she told me it was, and uh, yeah, it wasn’t there. I let her know about the lack of her license, and we searched the car and our bags for the new missing item, and now we were up to two, total. This day was not turning out to be a good day. We went to the front office and got the old key card canceled, and a replacement made. Then we drove back to the room to search for the missing driver’s license.

After searching the room, Anna had an afterthought about having thrown her purse down when we entered the room the night before. She moved a stool, near the door, and voila! There it sat, on the floor, waiting to be found. I wouldn’t have even dreamed to have looked there. I asked her to see if my key card was there too. It wasn’t.

So, now our day begins. We each have our cards again, and 45 minutes later than we wanted to leave, we made our way out of the lot and on our way to Pop Century to pick up the other couple we arrived with: Anna’s mom (Darlene) and Anna’s aunt (Delores).

After picking them up and recounting the morning’s events, we entered Epcot’s entryway with mellowing attitudes and high hopes that the day had to get better. Upon parking the car, we saw the tremendously long lines at the security bag check area and some hope diminished. After finally making it through the bag check we found a line and stood in it. We were there for 15 minutes when we began to move, two to three steps every three to four minutes. Wondering why the line was taking so long was a mystery we soon solved when we came around the will call booths. The turn-style we should have been heading for was closed. Our line and the line to our left were being merged to form one enormous, unorganized line of chaos.  More hope diminishes.

Once through the gate, 45 minutes later than we wanted to be there, we breathed a breath of relief. We discussed what we wanted to do first, and decided to get a fast pass to Soarin’. Seeing that the stand by line was a 50 minute wait, we decided not to ride it, but rather wait until the times on the fast passes. We decided to ride “Living with the Land.” We turned to go through the turn-styles, but we were stopped by a couple of cast members that advised us that the ride was down due to technical difficulties. Scratch that.

Instead, we head out of the building and head over to a nice little clam ride to see “Turtle Talk with Crush. It’s a nice little ride with a very entertaining show at the end, where Crush takes questions from audience members. The interaction is awesome, the kids are entertained, and we all learned the different meanings of, “Duuuude!”

We left Crush and went to another building to visit a small purple dinosaur. We watched as a spark of inspiration results in imagination. Needing to use some of the time left after  exiting the ride with Figment, we headed over to MouseGear to do some window shopping. I found some new antenna toppers that will be purchased later in the trip. My wife found some hats and shirts she liked, and Darlene and Delores looked at hats and iPhone cases.

Time’s a tickin’. We looked at the clock. We had 20 minutes until the fast pass’s allotted time expired. We headed back to the ride. Through the fastpass line, we waited a total of about 10 minutes, while the standby line was stated at 60 minutes. Once we made it to the spot in the line where we are assigned a space, we requested “B1.” To us, this is the best seat in the house. Front row and center; there aren’t any dangling feet in your view, and the view is all encompassing. The director asked us to wait at the entrance to the requested row, and there we waited for another 10 minutes. (A wait well worth the time)

After being positioned in the place we wanted to be, one of the cast members appeared in front of us. He lip-synced the entire pre-show speech given by Patrick Warburton. It was fun and funny to watch him instead of the screen. Once inside, we buckled in and prepared to hang-glide over California. Ahhh, the fresh smell of pine and oranges… Perks of the ride! You have to ride it to know.

After the ride, my wife, mother-in-law, and aunt-in-law took the stairs, while I comforted myself on the escalator. Once I made it to the top, I located the rest of the family that beat me there, and Delores leaned over and said something that made my wife hug her. (Now, no one else will know what she said, but I want to throw a “shout out” to her. With full emotion and celebration, I want to express my happiness in that she climbed the flight of steps with no ill-feelings of wheezing or shortness of breath. We’re all happy for you, and happy that you are seeing positive changes in your life. We love you, AD!!)

Lunch Time!! Starving and tired, we went to Coral Reef to fulfill our first dining reservation. It seemed I was the odd ball, because all three women ordered the exact same meal, save the appetizer. Typically, on the dining plan, an appetizer is not included, but since this meal was part of the Candlelight Processional package, it was an added bonus. The women started with soup and crab cakes, while I started with a salad. DELICIOUS!! I would have been happy with salad all evening, but hey! I made the sacrifice for the entrée. The women all ordered chicken, and I ordered a New York Strip Steak (medium rare). I got to sample the chicken dish and then ate my meal. Everything was perfectly cooked, and the taste was exquisite. Dinner was followed by dessert. My wife and her mom and aunt had Baileys and Jack Daniel’s Mousse, while I enjoyed an orange cheesecake. The alcohol in their desserts was strong, to say the least, but it was equally as delicious, and a great way to end a meal. The orange cheesecake was also very good, and enjoyed to the last piece.

At the end of the meal, the server presented us with our candlelight processional tickets for preferred seating, we took care of the check and tip, and then made our way out of the restaurant, praising the meal, and expressing fulfillment.

We went into the World Showcase after dinner, starting with Canada. There were a couple of street shows, in different countries, that were entertaining and interactive with guests of the park. I took some video of the shows, and then continued on the way around the world. In England, they told the story of Scrooge, and in France, a guy balanced himself atop four chairs, stacked on a table. While we were in England, however, I looked up the phone numbers to those red phone boxes, and then started calling them as guests entered them to have their pictures taken. It was fun to watch them try to figure out who was calling them. I spoke with complete strangers and it was encouraging to hear their excitement while interacting with a display.

Once we made it to the American pavilion, we found our place in line for the Candlelight Processional, grabbed a drink, and then waited until they began seating us. I ended up drinking a Bud light (I know, I know), and Anna ordered a Sultan’s Colada. She hated hers, and after a tree dropped a leaf in it, it was pitched into the nearest receptacle. I finished mine off as we entered the seating area.

Now, I won’t go into great detail about this show, but I will say that if you haven’t ever experienced this show, then you are truly missing out. While the choir sang and the symphony played, Neil Patrick Harris read the story of Christmas to the audience. It was one of the best shows I have ever experienced, and one that will not be forgotten.

After the show, we were tired, sore and hungry. We visited a couple of the shops as we continued through the World Showcase, then sat down and decided to exit the park for the night. Typically, we would have taken a break half way through the day, but with the bad start to the day and the busy schedule we had given ourselves, we skipped it. Lesson learned. We stopped in Norway, where I picked up a school bread pastry, and then made a B-Line for the front of the park.

Just short of exiting, I approached a cast member outside of Test Track to see if there would be any “soft openings” of the ride before its official reopening. They declined to comment, and just said that the official opening will be on December 6^th. Since December 5^th will be our last day in Epcot, I’m sorry to say that we will not be able to provide any new news on the progress of the ride. I’m sure there will be some soft openings, but the cast member I spoke with was very secretive, and unwilling to communicate any of that information.

We exited Epcot and drove to Pop Century to drop off Delores and Darlene. We stayed there with them for enough time to walk over to Art of Animation to get some LATE dinner. That hotel is something to behold as far as artwork design goes. We never made it any farther than the food court, but the pool and playground equipment was pretty neat. From a hotel/resort standpoint, it’s much like Pop Century.

After the meal, it was getting late. I still had a lot to do, and knew it was going to be an even later night for me, with uploading pictures and videos, recharging electronic equipment, and writing this trip report. I hope you have enjoyed day one of our adventure this year. As always, we are WDW or bust!

I will be attending the Grand Opening of the New Fantasyland, preview of Splitsville and Grand Opening of Test Track which has been reimagined.  While the highlight of the trip is the New Fantasyland Grand Opening, I am looking forward to the entire experience.

We will start the trip with a preview of Splitsville.  This state of the art bowling center will be opening late 2012.  With two floors, 30 lanes and live music, this place is sure to be a hit!

Next we’ll move onto the New Fantasyland Preview and Dinner Party.  Here we will be able to preview the new attractions, entertainment and dining in the New Fantasyland area of the Magic Kingdom Park.  We will be able to experience Celebrate the Magic, followed by Wishes and finally a holiday “kiss goodnight”.

The following day, we will attend the New Fantasyland Grand Opening, learn about new changes for the Walt Disney World Resort and end the day at the Grand Opening of Test Track Re-Imagined.

So which part of this are you most interested in?  We’ll be posting updates and reviews next week as we experience all of this, plus the holidays in Disney World.

As always, thanks for reading! It’s almost Christmas!!!

Here is the glossy Walt Disney World link to the “new” look Test track ride at the park (that has been closed since April)…

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/epcot/attractions/test-track/

Since 1999, car nuts stranded at Walt Disney World knew they could find  respite from the Small Worlds and Magic Kingdoms at Epcot’s GM Test Track—until  it closed its doors this past April, at least.

Fortunately, the attraction won’t be shuttered forever. A team of GM  designers and Disney Imagineers—that’s Disney-speak for the individuals  responsible for making the entertainment empire’s theme parks a reality—have  been laboring to redesign and rebuild the ride as the Chevrolet Test Track.

The result of their 18-month collaborative effort won’t face public scrutiny  until it launches on Dec. 6, but GM gave us a hint of what guests can expect at  a recent media event.

The most outwardly notable alteration to the attraction is the name: Chevrolet  gets exclusive billing at the new Test Track. Where the attraction previously  made room for GM’s entire lineup, only vehicles bearing the bowtie have a spot  on the newly renovated floor.

The Test Track’s new focus on Chevrolet is accompanied by an increased  emphasis on vehicle design, which sets up an interesting hook for the attraction  as a whole. Guests will create a virtual concept car that will accompany them  for the duration of their time at the attraction.

It begins with a line drawn on a computer console in the “pre-ride” staging  area. That line is converted to a streamlined, three-dimensional “speedshape.” Further interaction involves balancing four performance attributes—capability,  efficiency, responsiveness and speed—to create a roughly sketched  proto-vehicle.

Special software and something project manager and indefatigable Imagineer  Melissa Jeselnick referred to as “Disney magic” fill the gaps and turn that  guest input into a nifty, polished concept car—with a Chevrolet bow tie on the  grille, of course.

Fans of the original GM Test Track will be pleased to hear that the ride  portion of the attraction, which hits speeds of up to 65 mph, remains  fundamentally unaltered. The scenery, however, has received a substantial  makeover. Dated “Incredible  Crash Dummies”-style carts have been redone with fluorescent paint and a  prominent Chevy logo. Tron-like glowing panels give the track a  futuristic, virtual-reality feel.

This last update deserves its own place in this post.  The Disney Food Blog has released their first ever Guide to the Walt Disney World Holidays!  You can get more information on either the News Updates page or the Food Blog Guides page, and you can even go ahead and purchase the e-book through our Food Blog Guides page.  Enjoy!

This week we also got to add some tips to our Tips pages!  These included a ton of great tips for the WDW Marathon (also good for runDisney events in general) and a few new holiday tips as well.

This weekend I intend to start on my trip report from our September/October WDW vacation, so be looking for that in the near future as well.

As always, thanks for reading!

So, what can you expect onsite at IAVs 2013?

View your video highlights from 2012 to see for yourself!

Currently, one of Epcot’s most popular rides, Test Track is being renovated, and some of the changes will be revealed to guests this week!

Disney will reveal the new exterior of the ride this week, and the official re-opening of the attraction will happen on Dec 6th

Some of the changes you can expect to see include the customization of your own ‘concept vehicle’ as well as the transition from the previous GM designs to a new ‘Chevrolet Design Center At Epcot’

Personally I can’t wait to check out the new ride and design my very own ride vehicle – what a great way to keep the ride interesting and fresh!

TGIF!