SG - but for a good reason...

[Malpass93]

Well, on a recent visit to Epcot, I'd decided to see for myself the situation regarding Wonders of Life. 'Twas dark, with no-one around, Universe of Energy quiet, with everyone in the vicinity headed for Mission: SPACE. So I shuffled past the potted plants and benches, then ran to the entrance. Locked, of course. So I took out my camera, and got some shots. Didn't get busted, no-one about. Would have feigned innocence if anyone was about, though. The attached pictures show WoL's predicament best.

Anyone got any news (be that official, CM knowledge/rumours or snooping around WoL)?

[Lasolimu]

I remember the last time I was there, December of 2007 I think, it was open and I got to do the stuff in there. Some of it was cool, but in general it was just not worth the time spent in there, I think it really needs an update.

[Shorty82]

It is used for special events these days. Displays and things like that are set up in there. It was used like that for both the Flower and Garden Festival and the Food and Wine Festival.

Feigned innocence after squeezing by large planters and ropes? HA! Planters and ropes are there for a reason, please don't go through them again. This time they were just blocking off a building but the next time they could be blocking off a hazard or something. I've been tempted to do the same thing but haven't because of the barriers that are there.

[Malpass93]

It is used for special events these days. Displays and things like that are set up in there. It was used like that for both the Flower and Garden Festival and the Food and Wine Festival.

Feigned innocence after squeezing by large planters and ropes? HA! Planters and ropes are there for a reason, please don't go through them again. This time they were just blocking off a building but the next time they could be blocking off a hazard or something. I've been tempted to do the same thing but haven't because of the barriers that are there.

Apologies.

[bursts into chorus of Timbaland 'Apologize']

[hobie16]

So I shuffled past the potted plants and benches, then ran to the entrance. Locked, of course. So I took out my camera, and got some shots. Didn't get busted, no-one about. Would have feigned innocence if anyone was about, though.
You're lucky. The last person that shuffled by the plants and benches stepped into one of the punji stake pits.

[Malpass93]

You're lucky. The last person that shuffled by the plants and benches stepped into one of the punji stake pits.

There's always one who's unfortunate...

For once it wasn't me!

[turkeyham]

Yesterday a group of people were mentionong that there were live animals inside the planters near BTMR. Plus these SG were wondering around behind the fences. Folks, therer is a reason why the fences are there, there is electical outlets and lizzards that don't want to be disturbed. Stay out or dry yourself!!:twisted:

[drcorey]

Yesterday a group of people were mentionong that there were live animals inside the planters near BTMR. Plus these SG were wondering around behind the fences. Folks, therer is a reason why the fences are there, there is electical outlets and lizzards that don't want to be disturbed. Stay out or dry yourself!!:twisted:

yeah, disney is full of wild life. lizzards, snakes, cats, chipmunks, ducks,
lots of them will fight if provoked too.

[disneyaddict]

yeah, disney is full of wild life. lizzards, snakes, cats, chipmunks, ducks,
lots of them will fight if provoked too.

Watch out for the lizards in particular...they'll bite you if you try to help them out of a resort building...

[Goofyernmost]

Why were all the lights on in the WoL building? Anyone know?

[Shorty82]

Why were all the lights on in the WoL building? Anyone know?

Probably something as simple as Disney forgetting to send someone over to turn them off.

[mechurchlady]

http://www.oitc.com/Disney/WDW/Property/Secrets/Animals.html
There is lots of wildlife in WDW.

The lightw were on because someone tripped the security system again and turned on the lights so that the intruders could see the dogs coming and then run for shelter where they would be found the next morning covered in dog drool. That or maybe it is one of the top secret CM upper management party palaces that is made from funds deverted from WDW payroll to their pleasure accounts.

[Shorty82]

http://www.oitc.com/Disney/WDW/Property/Secrets/Animals.html
There is lots of wildlife in WDW.

Yes, there is. I've seen lots of birds of different types in the parks. Ducks, some kind of swan, crows, other kinds I don't know what they are, and lately lots of sea gulls. During the summer it seemed like ducks owned the park and just rented it to us. I've seen rabbits, deer, and other animals in and around the parks.

Of the linked to list I've personally seen rabbits, deer, squirrels, wild turkeys, herons, egrets, ducks, and sea gulls. The list is missing the turkey vulture, lots of those ugly things around property and they like to hang out on the railing of the croc pit at DAK (only place I've seen them inside a park). I regularly pass flocks of them on the side of the road on my way to and from work, often times they are cleaning up road kill (hey, saves the county from doing it!)

I've heard of gators and snakes being seen around (including a gator that lives in the storm pond right by the bus loop at West Clock).

I'm glad I haven't seen any snakes around, I HATE those things. I've heard that the life guards at the water parks have to keep an eye out for snakes in the lazy rivers. Seems they like to swim around in them sometimes. As long as snakes and gators leave me alone I'll leave them alone and we'll both be happy.

[turkeyham]

Ok Shorty82!

We are taking you on Indy when you get out here!

Tropical Imports has bubber snakes! Maybe Big Wallaby will buy you one or Moe will get you one too.:D:

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

DW likes the alligator pillows!!!

[mechurchlady]

I remember them buzzards at Discovery Island back when that was open.
A shame that that closed
There used to be more deer and bunnies but you know how bus drivers use them for target practice, lol.;)

[Goofyernmost]

I have seen many lizards, tons of birds (all types), alligators, some very large chipmunks named Chip and Dale, and snakes casually swimming in the river in front of Cinderella Castle. WDW is built outdoors after all and they were all there first (with the exception of Chip and Dale). There would be fewer seagulls if those idiot SG's would stop feeding them.

I stayed in a huge villa off site last year and the number of "buzzards" around was scary. They would perch on the top of roofs and wait for the opportunity to raid the trash cans in the area.

[hobie16]

I was watching a red headed breast beater but her husband snuck up and punched me in the binoculars.

[Canuikstan]

I am still waiting for the OP to provide the good reason he was a SG....

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

I am still waiting for the OP to provide the good reason he was a SG....

Remember..One of the hallmarks of an SG is self Justification! We must teach him the ways of the (anti) SG force!!

[Malpass93]

I am still waiting for the OP to provide the good reason he was a SG....

Curiousity. I'm not letting it die without seeing it. I never saw it open.

Remember..One of the hallmarks of an SG is self Justification! We must teach him the ways of the (anti) SG force!!

Please do. I don't want to be a SG anymore!

[Shorty82]

Curiousity. I'm not letting it die without seeing it. I never saw it open.

Curiosity killed the cat, you know. There's things at WDW I'm curious to see but can't as I'm not supposed to go into that area, and I'm a Cast Member. I'm allowed lots of places no guest can go. I'm not going to duck ropes or slide around planters just to see a closed building.

Wanted to see the place? Then you should come during one of the festivals where they open up the main part of building, that way you can see the place without trespassing in a restricted area and get a better look while too.

Please do. I don't want to be a SG anymore!

Good. Stop going into places you don't belong and you'll be well on the way to being a non-SG.

[Malpass93]

Curiosity killed the cat, you know.

Wanted to see the place? Then you should come during one of the festivals where they open up the main part of building, that way you can see the place without trespassing in a restricted area and get a better look while too.


I'm a 15-year-old, living in England. Once a year visitor, in August. Epcot isn't exactly local for me.

There's things at WDW I'm curious to see but can't as I'm not supposed to go into that area, and I'm a Cast Member. I'm allowed lots of places no guest can go. I'm not going to duck ropes or slide around planters just to see a closed building..

Point taken.

Good. Stop going into places you don't belong and you'll be well on the way to being a non-SG.

OK. No more sneaking around.

[quickly evacuates computer in Iger's office]

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

I would suggest that the next trip to WDW, you take the behind the scenes tour. the one we took lasted all day, and started out at Epcot, went to DHS, and then the Magic Kingdom. Well worth the price. We got to see just enough of behind the scenes to satisify our curiousity, and it also gave us a deeper appreciation for what the CM's do at their various parts.

I seem to remember that there is a minimum age. I Think its 16.

[Shorty82]

I would suggest that the next trip to WDW, you take the behind the scenes tour. the one we took lasted all day, and started out at Epcot, went to DHS, and then the Magic Kingdom. Well worth the price. We got to see just enough of behind the scenes to satisify our curiousity, and it also gave us a deeper appreciation for what the CM's do at their various parts.

I seem to remember that there is a minimum age. I Think its 16.

All tours that go backstage have a minimum age of 16. Sounds like you went on the Backstage Magic tour. I'd love to go on that tour but can't justify the cost, even with my Cast discount, at this time.

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

All tours that go backstage have a minimum age of 16. Sounds like you went on the Backstage Magic tour. I'd love to go on that tour but can't justify the cost, even with my Cast discount, at this time.

Yeah, it was great. We found out about in as we were finishing our vacation one year, so we had to wait an entire year till we could go. (We did get a discount for using a Disney Visa card) The tour included lunch. Well worth it to spend a vacation day on a tour!!

And the Segway tour is pretty good too!

(been on that twice at WDW, and once at DCA)

[Shorty82]

Yeah, it was great. We found out about in as we were finishing our vacation one year, so we had to wait an entire year till we could go. (We did get a discount for using a Disney Visa card) The tour included lunch. Well worth it to spend a vacation day on a tour!!

And the Segway tour is pretty good too!

(been on that twice at WDW, and once at DCA)

I want to go on the Segway tour sometime. It looks fun. I've tried out a Segway at Innoventions before and found I tend to stand with my weight forward naturally as I had a very hard time keeping it still. I'll have to work on that before going on the tour.

I went on the Keys to the Kingdom tour years ago (long before becoming cast) and want to go on it again just for kicks considering the MK is my park and the main backstage area they see is Main Street I probably won't learn much and won't see anything I don't normally see already but it'll be fun anyway.

The only tour I've done since becoming a CM is the Behind the Seeds tour at the Land. I found out about while riding Living with the Land one time and decided to go on it. It was interesting, and most importantly it was cheap so I could actually afford it.

[hobie16]

I'd love to go on that tour but can't justify the cost, even with my Cast discount, at this time.
You could always stalk them. :D:

[Zazu]

All tours that go backstage have a minimum age of 16.Not true. The "Behind the Magic of Our Steam Trains" tour goes backstage and the minimum age for that is 10.

:train:

The rest of the backstage tours, yeah, 16.

[ktulu]

Not true. The "Behind the Magic of Our Steam Trains" tour goes backstage and the minimum age for that is 10.

:train:

The rest of the backstage tours, yeah, 16.

And I highly recommend this one! In fact, when we visit in June I am planning on doing this one again, and hopefully taking some families members who are traveling with us along.

[Ho-say]

Not true. The "Behind the Magic of Our Steam Trains" tour goes backstage and the minimum age for that is 10.

:train:

The rest of the backstage tours, yeah, 16.

This is a tour that I really need to do someday. I've always been fascinated by the steam trains. As a kid, I always asked that the first thing we did when we got to the MK was do a round trip starting at the Main St. USA station (and admittedly still sometimes do nowadays...lol)

The backstage tours are really great takes. Over the years, before I was a CM, I've taken the "Keys to the Kingdom", "Backstage Magic", "Behind the Seeds" and "The unDISCOVERed Future World" tours (though I hope that the Future World one has improved; I took it when they first started offering it a few years ago and wasn't entirely impressed...though I feel it had more to do with our tour guide than the actual tour).

[Lasolimu]

My Dad is a train/Disney junkie, so naturally the first and last thing he wants to do in the parks is ride the train, I think he averages about 3 full circuits per trip. We did the "Behind the Magic of Our Steam Trains" tour on our 2005 trip for his birthday and it was a lot of fun, and interesting.