Sunday was Bats Day. There were hardly any Goths in attendance this year, but it wasn't scorching hot like last year. The Faux Boyfriend (refer to other blog) and I had a blast.
Mr. Toad's miniature motorcar has returned to Storybook Land, but Mr. Mole's rowboat is now missing. Casey Jr., which had been down due to track problems (per Mouseplanet), was running (though, per Mouseplanet, it's closed again and might be down until October).
The park's beginning to promote the Halloween season already, which I don't recall them doing last year. There was a coffin-shaped sign outside the HM exit, and banners are going up in the parking areas and at the main exit gates. FINALLY. After years of nutcases (who I won't bother to name...we all know who they are) trying to oppress Halloween, Disneyland takes a stand. Yeah, it's just to make even more money. I don't care. Halloween is so much more fun than Xmas, and if anyplace can do it up right (besides Knott's Scary Farm), it's Disneyland. I wonder if they'll take a cue from Disneyland Paris and their colorful Pumpkin Men, painting everything orange?
Speaking of the HM, it seems that the removal of the hallway narration is likely to be a permanent change. Phooey. Now when I ride past those banging, breathing doors, I feel like something's missing. The park did replace the green orb, though - now you see a face much like one in a hallway photograph, against a smoky backdrop, with a floating orb (a fainter one). It's pretty cool.
I have finally seen the rehabbed POTC and I must say I approve! There's a new map, the Jack Sparrow animatronics are woven in perfectly (and are incredibly realistic), the Barbossa animatronic looks better than his predecessor, and the Davy Jones effect looks great. I don't think I need to comment on the new end scene, since you've probably already seen the concept art.
The Imagineers added a Jack Sparrow mural to the walls of the indoor queue area. Even better, they changed their rendition of notorious lady pirate Anne Bonney: she is now depicted with her close friend and partner in crime, Mary Read, and they have their arms around each others' shoulders. There's one flaw, though: Anne is depicted as a blonde. In life, she was a redhead, which probably helped her reputation as a fierce woman who was not to be crossed. Since Anne and Mary were, according to a number of pirate scholars, lovers in addition to being friends, I have to wonder if someone in the WDI paint department changed the mural to reflect an actual same-sex couple they know. Not that there's anything wrong with it, of course. (But seriously, Anne shouldn't be depicted as a blonde.) If you want to learn more about Anne and Mary, pick up a copy of "Women Pirates and the Politics of the Jolly Roger." AK Press usually carries it.
See you at Disneyland.
