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Old 09-30-2014, 02:52 AM   #31
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Love the early morning shots!
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Old 09-30-2014, 09:11 AM   #32
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Great morning shots!
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Old 09-30-2014, 09:12 AM   #33
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I just love the fresh-scrubbed look of the parks in the early morning! That photo of the train station with no people in the plaza is amazing!
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Old 09-30-2014, 09:26 AM   #34
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I am a early riser and like to get to the parks early as well. I am anxiously awaiting to hear about the train tour. I think my DH would enjoy it.
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Old 09-30-2014, 10:12 AM   #35
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I love the early morning photos of the park!
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Old 09-30-2014, 10:22 AM   #36
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Love your photos! I can't wait to hear more of your "live" report
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Old 09-30-2014, 11:04 AM   #37
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Love the empty park. Hope you enjoyed the tour.
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Old 09-30-2014, 11:42 AM   #38
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Your pictures are amazing
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Old 09-30-2014, 12:15 PM   #39
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Beautiful early morning photos!
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Old 09-30-2014, 03:15 PM   #40
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Love the photos of MK early in the morning! I've never gotten to a park that early. I'm thinking next trip I'll book an early breakfast adr.
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Old 09-30-2014, 03:22 PM   #41
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Great early morning photos of MK!
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Old 09-30-2014, 04:27 PM   #42
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Love the early monring shots!!
I can't wait to get my own on our CP morning!
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Old 09-30-2014, 05:06 PM   #43
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Thanks, everyone, for commenting. Glad you enjoyed the early morning park photos. Early morning ADRs are nice, but this was even better, because we went in before anyone else.


UPDATE - DAY 2, PART 2: The Magic Behind The Steam Trains - Part 1

Spoiler Alert - I don't think anything I'm going to say is much of a spoiler. The name is about all you need to "Spoil" this tour - it's about Steam Trains! I will show some photos, and talk about the sequence of events, so if you are the type who doesn't want any clues before you take this tour, perhaps skip these next two posts (I'll break it up, because there are lots of photos). I won't go into the history or mechanical details of the trains (I'm not saying I didn't listen to every detail, but ...)


Once we finished taking photos on Main Street, Michael took us into the Train Station. Here, he talked about some of the history of the trains, and went into more detail about some of the photos and posters on the street level part of the station. I didn't have any change, or I would have made a pressed penny:






We walked up the ramp to the 2nd Floor of the Train Station where you actually board the train, and heard some more history. We then boarded the train that came especially for us






Michael continued talking, and answering questions, as we circled the park. I took a few photos as we passed through Frontierland, as this is always my favorite part of the train ride:











There are 4 Steam Train Engines at Walt Disney World, and we were riding the Walter E. Broggie from the Main Street Station. We were able to take photos everywhere except when we passed through one gate to the maintenance barn. Michael said he didn't understand, since we could take all the photos we wanted on the other side of the gate. Once in the barn, we hopped off the train and were free to walk around. We could look in the barn where they do repairs (but not walk inside), and we listened while Michael told us more history and some about the mechanical aspects of the Steam Trains. Everyone was able to take a turn getting up into the locomotive which was parked outside - the Roy O. Disney, No. 4.


























I was told to get a photo of this - the black pipe is a heat exchanger, one of the first used on a Steam Train locomotive, and designed by a Disney Engineer. It uses the heat output from the engine to preheat the water in the boiler (see, I did listen to some things):






The Monorail Trains are all maintained on the Top Level of the Maintenance Barn - we saw one coming out while we were there:











We were able to see Engine No. 1 coming out of the Maintenance Bay - this locomotive is the Walter E. Disney:




















Steam Train Tours are Serious Business ...





After about 45 minutes to an hour at the Maintenance Barn, we loaded up into the Roy O. Disney, and took a ride back to Main Street. There, we exited the train, went down to City Hall where we got a cold bottle of water. We took about a 20 minute break. While waiting outside City Hall, I took some photos of the activities going on around the entrance into the park.
































This gentleman was handing out celebration pins in front of City Hall. I asked him if I could take a photo, and explained he had sung Happy Birthday to our Granddaughter a year ago. He was tickled that I remembered. He told us he was retiring soon, but he really enjoyed making the children smile:




We'll pick up with the second part of the tour in the next post. I won't keep you in suspense. We both enjoyed the Steam Train Tour !!! Lou found the train part and the Walt Disney history very interesting. I was just happy to be along for the ride, and enjoyed taking a few photos. Even though Michael is not an engineer or conductor, he has a passion for the Steam Trains, and was very knowledgeable. He is very good at what he does.
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Old 09-30-2014, 05:13 PM   #44
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Very cool photos of the trains. I'm not an enthusiast, but love to see these well-built machines and admire those who create and care for them. How great that you remembered the CM who helped to make a special moment last year!
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Old 09-30-2014, 08:09 PM   #45
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We really liked this tour as well. Love your pix.
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