2/19 and 2/20 CRV/ Hybrid Bus / Toy Story Mania, etc. updates

I've spent tons of times in the parks over the past 10 days (with friends) – not taking many photos, but enough to get a couple of updates in.    These photos are from Tuesday and Wednesday.

 

We first went to MGM on Tuesday: 

The candy shop was closed (but the villains side open):

 

 

We rode the Great Movie Ride – the costumes changed probably right after I rode last month, I hadn't seen them before (I at first wondered why a manager was our driver!)

 

 

The ABC Theater:

 

 

Toy Story Mania (from the side I don't usually take):

 

 

The Polynesian Volcano pool (currently closed), from the water:

 

 

One of the days, I met with some friends for Trails End (my favorite Disney restaurant) and the parks.    When we arrived to the Fort Wilderness bus area, I noticed a new hybrid bus.   The driver was more than happy to let us take a look – it was only there for a week (testing, but it had a "special" sign on the front).    Even though the driver wasn't taking regular passengers, we were asked where we were going – and were treated to a ride to the Settlement.  Last year, I took photos (and rode) the hybrid bus being tested at that time.   This bus was sponsored by Wachovia, it didn't sound like the bus was going to be used further at this time.  There were numerous changes from last years model, but I do not understand torque and such!    We were told that Fort Wilderness is a great testing area, because the bus doesn't lose much charge there ( it stops and starts a lot, without going for long distances).   The test should now be over, I was happy to get to ride again!  Last year, the hybrid bus went to test at Epcot too, but that wasn't the plan this time.