Stupid Guest Tricks

ktulu wrote:Now I want to see backstage at The Land AND POTC at DL now...

See, I'm a geek, so these things excite me. Like the time we were evac'd from POTC at DL and walked through a backstage area to get back outside and then through the exit back onto the ride (improper loading caused the boat to not go over the first drop, which caused the fun). It was fun to see area's guests aren't normally supposed to see.

Well a lot of guests got to see some interesting things when we had two Signal 25's (fire alarms) this summer. Whenever the alarm goes off all of the work lights turn on automatically. We don't evac rides in that case, we just cycle out so I feel bad for those who just got on. They had to hear the fire alarm for 15 minutes. Also once our elevator broke so we would escort guests in wheelchairs backstage out the Image gate to the front of the pavilion to get back upstairs. The guests thought that was pretty cool.

If you get a chance, that the tour, it was 7 hours, but well worth it. (it also makes you want to work there!!) we got to see ariel putting on her makup, the costume department (holy crap!) Learned about the Circle layout, saw how the hall of presidents worked, (Impressive!) and other things to numerious to mention. No cameras are allowed!!

We did have one lady (that was on the verde of being an SG, who was writing down everything the CM said, verbaitum! We think she was working for a certain web site that does tips and tricks. We were hoping that she would have been kicked off, but she was unobtrusive. just filled three notebooks!!

As far as going backstage, a lot of it is set up so if you don't know what you're looking at, you wouldn't have a clue. Every time I go backstage at Magic Kingdom, I get that sense once again of how it's really just one really big building. You turn the corner, and if you're in a spot where you can't see any of the facade on the other side, it's just a drab building.

I've done Keys to the Kingdom at MK, and I was surprised at how "ordinary" a lot of the backstage looked. Particularly just off Main Street, where you walk five feet from magical fantasy into a parking lot replete with delivery trucks. And, I'm amazed at how close some of the buildings are to each other.

We actually had to swear, so help us Walt, that we would not take any photos on our first trip backstage. Fortunately our guide was funny about it and wasn't like North Korea-style "No pictures!"

goofyjoe wrote:I've done Keys to the Kingdom at MK, and I was surprised at how "ordinary" a lot of the backstage looked...

Having never been on the tour, and since you have no photographic evidence, I'm going to assume you're lying to us! I'm going to assume it's sparkly and magical backstage because that's where all the faeries and princesses and mice are inventing magic! :D:

<sticks fingers in ears and begins singing "la la la la la, I can't hear you, la la la la la!">

Kwahati wrote:<sticks fingers in ears and begins singing "la la la la la, I can't hear you, la la la la la!">

Don't ever... ever take a backstage tour. :p:

We actually have Spitting Greater Kudu who spit acid back there to help protect from having people see it.

I guess you'd be really impressed with the manager trailer at DAK.

At MK, the thing that got me was just how much noise can be made at the Slab (back opening to the tunnel) with no need to worry about the sound carrying to the guest areas.

Big Wallaby wrote:At MK, the thing that got me was just how much noise can be made at the Slab (back opening to the tunnel) with no need to worry about the sound carrying to the guest areas.

Now that's actually cool. When I used to work in restaurants as a waiter (waaaay back in the day) I used to smile endlessly in front of guests, then go into the kitchen and wait for the door to close behind me and then scream. :) Sometimes you have to and that kept me from melting down "on stage."

Kwahati wrote:Having never been on the tour, and since you have no photographic evidence, I'm going to assume you're lying to us! I'm going to assume it's sparkly and magical backstage because that's where all the faeries and princesses and mice are inventing magic! :D:

<sticks fingers in ears and begins singing "la la la la la, I can't hear you, la la la la la!">

Sorry...your right there are pixie dust bins and magic candy machines galore, and everyone is singing and skipping to their next shift of dealing with SG's!!!

Riggggggttttt everyone???? (whisper mode)Lets not ruin the magic or someone will become a you know what!!)

Kwahati wrote:I'm going to assume it's sparkly and magical backstage because that's where all the faeries and princesses and mice are inventing magic! :D:

And a place where you can see princesses in their underware. :) (magic being made for a certain bus driver :D: )


Other than that, backstage is not really that interesting.

Big Wallaby wrote:Don't ever... ever take a backstage tour. :p:

We actually have Spitting Greater Kudu who spit acid back there to help protect from having people see it.

I guess you'd be really impressed with the manager trailer at DAK.

At MK, the thing that got me was just how much noise can be made at the Slab (back opening to the tunnel) with no need to worry about the sound carrying to the guest areas.

Now he would be very impressed with the trailers out by Cast Connection.

The thing I do love about backstage is the Monorail barn. That does get to me every time. I also want to do the nickel Zazu train tour.