Chapter 12.
Friday
Friday morning, we were more optimistic. Jennifer received her blood transfusion Thursday afternoon and felt better Thursday night. She was eating and sleeping better once again.
So far, the new medicine that she’s taking twice a day has minimal side effects. Although, they did say it would take some time before we noticed anything. As a precaution, we took it easy Thursday night and just hung out together. We even popped some popcorn and watched a movie as a family.
But today, we were going to hang out in Fun Town USA for the day and then come back later in the evening to go to the ultra-high-tech dance club; Metamorphoses. Sally also asked if she could bring along Keith, for company. We knew she has been worried about her mom, so we were happy to have someone she “liked” to have fun with. This way, I could hang out with Jennifer, and if she felt ill, I could take her back to the suite, and Sally could stay with Keith.
After a nice breakfast, we headed to the nearest Zipvator station and over to the WOE Complex. Once there, we took the escalator down and made a right into the entrance to Fun Town USA.
There is so much to see and do here, you could literally spend an entire day just in this section. Then again, you could spend a whole day in the State Fair, Show Town or The Continents sections too. The only section that you could go through in half to ¾ of a day would be the Dark Room.
Fun Town USA has literally everything that is fun, to do! A massive, largest in the world, skating rink, movie theaters, game centers, laser tag, virtual reality games, bowling, rope courses, zip lines, dancing, electric go-karts, hide-and-go-seek and more. I mean, this place is a super playground for everyone, at any age.
When you go through the entrance, you go up this conveyor ramp into a world of lights, music, and a party atmosphere. Fun Town USA is open from 11 a.m. to 12 a.m., and later during special nights and events. They have little cafes and places to eat where you can “people watch” and still stay in the action. The four of us went to the arcade first to try our skill at some of the older arcade games and even some of the new ones. Jennifer and I focused on our favorites; like Pac Man and Space Invaders, while Sally and Keith played a lot of the newer games. The arcade is quite expansive and appeared to have over 300 video games, including: Pinball machines, air hockey, skeet ball, and pool tables. All the games are free, and some of the more popular games, like the one’s Sally and Keith were playing, have two or three of each. As you would expect by now, there are colored lights on the ceiling, on the floors and walls and even in the bathrooms, all in festive, party colors. The music was switching between the ’80s through today’s hits. The arcade includes virtual reality rooms where you can compete against other players. There are games or “experiences” as they call them, that you can do on your own or as a family.
One experience we enjoyed was the Natural Wonders Experience. The object of the game is to “capture” Nono Birds in your net while flying a helicopter. You enter a small room filled with motion seats and VR headsets. The room can hold up to six people, but we were one family, so they let us play by ourselves. You can talk to each other and hear everyone’s excitement and screams from the exhilaration. One person (me) controlled the flying, while Sally and Jennifer controlled the nets, Keith was on the lookout. Our experience lasted about 20 minutes and made us feel like we were really flying in a helicopter over famous terrains. Man, was that ever fun!
There’s a fan favorite VR ride called; Grandma’s Sunday Ride. This ride has six, four passenger simulator vehicles that resemble old-time cars. Two passengers in the front and two in the back seat, all with VR headsets. You’re going out with Grandma on a drive through New York City in rush hour traffic to get some milk. Grandma doesn’t seem to be bothered by cars and trucks honking their horns and almost hitting her. In fact, she decides to “hit the gas” and let it go. Hold on, because you’re in for the ride of your life!
We all went to the Ropes Experience; A mind-boggling, adrenaline pumping, walking, and climbing experience. Unlike other rope courses where you’re harnessed and walk on ropes or beams high in the air; this experience takes you into a visually immersive world of unimaginable heights, which make you dig for your courage. The floors, walls, and ceiling are all covered with video images of scenes that change every day. One day may look like Chicago and the ropes you walk on connect from skyscraper to skyscraper. Another day may look like your walking across the Grand Canyon or Niagara Falls. Of course, there are other ropes courses available for the timid, with “closer to the ground” visuals. They even have bungee jumping and Ziplines, all using the same visual effects. Imagine the visual feeling of jumping off the Empire State Building? Complete with high winds and traffic below. All these experiences are free, but reservations are highly recommended, especially for the bungee jumping and the ziplines. Sally and Keith did the Chicago course as Jennifer, and I, did the less timid, two-story course.
We then rode the go-carts in City Race. These fast, electric carts can go up to 30 miles per hour, and the track complex features visual scenes of driving in city streets around the world. There are smaller courses for the younger and older guests who wish to travel at slower speeds. Each race can last ten minutes, so you get plenty of time to really enjoy the experience. You don’t have to race. In fact, there are two separate lanes on the inner part of the track that allow for those drivers who wish to just “site see” the city. There is another track there called the Desert. Here, you race around in a desert, complete with mountains and hills.
Everyone was having a blast, especially Jennifer. I could see that child-like glee on her face as she slipped away from reality and into fantasy. She really needed this. We all did.
After three hours, we decided to grab a bite to eat at the skating rink café, located on the second floor. The kids ordered churros and pizza, while Jennifer and I split a hot dog, corn dog, and fries. We then decided to burn off a few calories with roller skating in Club Wheels.
The Fun Town skating rink, Club Wheels, is absolutely monstrous! You could have 3,500 people skating at once and not notice it was crowded. It has a quarter portion of the rink enclosed, with special effects lighting and video inside. So, as you skate into it, you experience different effects each time, mostly relating to the music playing. They use video mapping on the floor to display scenes like water, the desert, space, and even city streets. The perimeter of the floor and the inside part of the rink always have LED lights lit to show you where the floor edges are. So, no matter how funky the lights get, you always know where the inside and outside edges of the floor are. The outside walls of the rink all have video projection from floor to ceiling. Just like the floor, pictures can also be displayed on the walls to match the images on the floor. There are also videos playing with music. Similar to the ultra-high-tech dance club; Metamorphoses, lights come down from the ceiling. There is a “core” section of lights in the middle of the rink that transform into many different shapes and project many different effects. Pedestrian bridges allow you to walk across to get to the middle of the rink, where there is elevated seating, a café (where we ate lunch), and several dance floors.
We skated for about two hours, and Jennifer hung in there. During one song, the lights went dim, the bass cranked, and at least 200 lasers filled the air while we were skating through the space image. Man, my adrenaline was pumping! I could feel goosebumps all over. Sally and Keith skated hand in hand to a few of the slow songs, while Jennifer and I watched and caught our breath.
Around 4 p.m., Jennifer asked if I wanted to go back to the suite for a little rest before coming back later for a movie and dancing. I was more than happy to oblige. We headed to the nearest Shuttle Pod Station in Fun Town USA and took a quick ride to the Family Hotel Zipvator Station.
I can’t stress enough how gratifying it is to get back to your suite in about 10 minutes. It’s almost a guarantee, that if you’re visiting other theme parks, even if you’re staying overnight on property, it will still take up to an hour to get back to your room. That usually includes walking in the heat, possibly waiting for a monorail, boat, or tram, and then maybe a bus or car. Sometimes, just going from the back of the park to the front can take a while. Here, it’s so convenient. Between the Shuttle Pods, Circle Shuttle and Zipvators, you’re where you want to be in a snap. There’s no need to have to wear comfy sneakers. Many guests wear flip-flops. You wouldn’t think of wearing those in a traditional park.
Jennifer and I both took a shower and ordered our dinner to be delivered to the Portal Box, using our dinner credit. We then took a nice nap. Sally stayed with Keith, and they both went to back to Game Central and then ate dinner together.
Around 7 p.m., we headed back to the Complex to see a movie that was playing at 7:30. We reserved seats for “Beauty and the Beast.” There is no charge for anything in Fun Town USA, except if you want food or adult beverages, and that can be free if you use your meal plan, except the adult beverages. The theater offers free popcorn, and the drinks are, naturally, free. They also offer other goodies that are ridiculously low-priced, compared to the traditional movie theater concessions. $1.50 hot dogs, $1 candy, $1.50 nachos and cheese. All the seats are recliners, where you can change the position with a simple push of a button and kick back. There is plenty of arm and legroom. But my favorite is this; if the crunching and munching of crispy snacks from others bother you, you can bring your own headphones that you can plug into your seat. This is also great if you want the sound louder or softer. They even offer headphones you can borrow, or you can use wireless ones, as they also use Bluetooth.
Fun Town USA has three movie theaters, each with 600 seats. Each theater runs two different films a day, so there is a total of six movies playing daily. During Halloween, they show classic horror films and try to scare the “nerve” out of you. The WOE pays the movie studios for however many guests watch each movie. After watching the film, we met up with Sally and Keith and headed into the world’s most advanced dance club; Metamorphoses.
Metamorphose is much like the Hologram Theater when it comes to technology and special effects. There are visual effects so realistic in both, that you would swear you’re in a different world.
Millions of lights and projection mapping cover everything from floor to ceiling. You’ll feel like you’re dancing on the moon, in New York City’s Times Square; you name it! There are multiple levels and multiple platforms that rise and lower. There are even different sections with their own theme, like The Power Dome; which features a 360-degree plasma tube you dance inside of. The acrylic dance floor is suspended inside the plasma tube, so all the video and lights go entirely above, below, and all around you.
Some areas have purposely amped up the bass, while others are a little quieter for more sensitive guests. There are so many lights connected to trusses that lower from the ceiling or rise from the floor; each with a different lighting package.
The central section of Metamorphosis has a dome ceiling with multiple platforms for dancing. In the center, there is a giant glass globe that sits inside a 100-foot-high by a 60-foot diameter clear cylinder that goes from floor to ceiling. Here, you will see unbelievable, sci-fi effects never seen anywhere else. The globe rises in the cylinder and fills with gases, holograms, fire, and more. At certain times during the night, there is an “Overdrive” level the club hits. You will see yellow warning lights flash around a minute beforehand. That’s telling you to get ready and be prepared to stay where you are. When the Overdrive starts, you will see the most powerful lasers and strobe effects found anywhere. It will coincide with the music and last for about a minute or two.
Live bands play throughout the night on multiple stages, helped by a resident or visiting DJ’s. The club is open from 6 p.m. until 12 a.m. daily and stays open until 2 a.m. or later, on select nights. At 11:00 p.m., all the walls separating the different sections of the club rise and become one giant dance club. The name Metamorphoses is due to the club changing its’ design every night. Each night, as the night wears on, the club slowly “transforms” into something different. The levels, walls, and many sections all slowly move to other positions and configurations. If you leave the dance club at 8 p.m. and come back at 10 p.m., the club will have appeared to have ‘morphed’ into another club.
As I mentioned earlier, due to the realistic level of effects in both Metamorphoses and the Hologram Theater, there have been several instances in the past where guests have taken drugs, like acid or Ecstasy, and had significant “freak outs” due to their reactions to the effects. Luckily, emergency personnel stationed in Fun Town USA were quickly on the scene and were able to help the guests before it was too late.
In the Hologram Theater, specially trained staff watch guests for any signs of trouble. All the Theaters, attractions, and intense rides also have call buttons on the back of each chair. If a guest starts to experience a heart attack, panic attack, or any other issue, they can push the button for help, or a guest next to them can push the button to summon help from the staff. This great lifesaver is brought to everyone’s attention before each show or extreme ride. These are also the same buttons I mentioned earlier that will light up in Yellow if you’re using a phone or camera or are rudely talking during a show. A red light means “you’re out.”
All of us danced and enjoyed the music, lights, and effects for several hours. They had two bands taking turns playing songs, sometimes two or three in a row. Once one band finished playing a song, the other would start immediately, or sometimes they would “mix” one song into another. Both bands are from the Magnificent Twelve. One was playing hits from the ’70s, and the other played the 80’s. After about an hour, another band came on and played hits from the ’90s.
The Metamorphoses Dance Club is a fantastic place to dance without feeling like everyone is watching you. The lighting, videos, and effects keep those watching or taking a breather occupied, and there are so many places to go and dance. So many “unique” sections with bits of privacy.
Drinking is very limited at the WOE. The only drinks served in Fun Town USA are at Metamorphoses and the “live” venue restaurant, Levels. Levels is a sit-down restaurant with four stages. The entertainment switches from one to the other simultaneously, with a variety of bands, singers, magicians, and comics. There are video screens around the restaurant for easy viewing, so you can always see and hear the entertainment, even if you can’t see the stage. As the name implies, the seating is all ‘tired,’ and each level is themed differently from the others. The entertainment is similar to the World Stage entertainment, except Levels usually has more music and comedy. Just like the other restaurants that have a band or music playing, ordering can be done through your Touchpad Ordering Assistant, but a friendly server will assist you and bring you your drinks and food. Of course, you can also use your lunch or dinner credits to pay for your meals if you’d like. Since Levels is in Fun Town USA, its hours are 11 a.m. until 12 a.m. and longer on select nights.
Here’s how the WOE drinking policy works. Each guest’s drinking is monitored by computer and staff. If you’re staying on property, you’ll be allowed more to drink, but I doubt you’ll get drunk. They will usually slow you down beforehand. For those that are there for the day only, your drinks will be spaced out, and you will not even get past a decent buzz unless you’re there to see a concert. Then, they’ll serve you a little more before the show only and start cutting back as the evening wears on. If you’re staying in the Brand Name Hotels, the same policy will apply to those guests staying on property, since you will be taking the Monorail to get back to your hotel. If you are a driver and let them know, they will be happy to serve you drinks with little to no alcohol. They watch to see if any guests are walking a little funny toward the parking garage at closing time. If they observe any impairment from those planning on driving home, they will assist in asking who will be driving and setting up a designated driver, if need be. If it’s just one person by themselves, then they’ll get them to stay for a while until they feel better. I’ve heard there is a lounge in one of the security areas if someone needs a nap.
For some people, this may seem a little ridiculous. But for many guests, they don’t want to deal with drunks, rudeness, being “hit on”, or fights. The idea is to have fun, not to make money pushing booze. Metamorphoses is not a bar, but a dance club, and they want you to have an enjoyable time; not ruin it for someone else or hurt someone in a car crash going home.
All their staff are very well-trained to spot potential problems, and they will send for “assistance” to help guide you to a “better state of mind”, if need be. If you don’t cooperate you may be gently taken for a walk to a more conducive environment. Not jail or anything harsh, but a place where you can calm down. The WOE understands that some guests may have a rough night due to a combination of medication or alcohol and other substances. They won’t call the police, as they have their own security and just want to get things calm as quickly as possible. Any unruly behavior can get you cut off the next night or in bad situations; dropped as a Member and prohibited from coming back. Remember, you need a reservation to be here, and then you must be identified when you come in. But I’ve seldom heard of any issues, and those I did hear of were so small and were handled quickly and professionally.
So, the drinking is only in: Metamorphoses, Levels, sit-down restaurants in the Complex, The Concert Lounge, and at the hotels. That’s it! Since everything is tracked by computer, you can’t go from one restaurant to another and think you can continue drinking. If you think your smart and drink alcohol you brought from home to get a head start, and then go to the Complex, be warned. If they suspect you are already “tipsy” when ordering, they can ask that you perform a breathalyzer test before being served. There is no walking around The Complex drinking a beer or a mixed drink. This is indeed a family environment, and a close eye is kept on your safety and the safety of others. I love it!
Soon after the walls went up in Metamorphoses, we left Fun Town USA and headed back to our suite. I couldn’t tell you the last time any of us had that much fun. From the video gaming and VR Experiences, skating, the movie, to dancing; we did it all. The best part about Fun Town USA is that you can come back anytime. You can make reservations for the skating rink or Metamorphoses, as well as the ropes courses, zip lines, VR Experiences, and laser tag. But you don’t need to. If any of them are at capacity, you can request a notification when the one you want to visit becomes available. Just like the State Fair, you can go and have fun for an hour or all day.
After getting back to our suite, Jennifer and I went to shower, while Sally and Keith wrapped things up in the hallway (I’m sure with a good night kiss). What a day and night! The best, yet! Thank you, doctors!
Friday
Friday morning, we were more optimistic. Jennifer received her blood transfusion Thursday afternoon and felt better Thursday night. She was eating and sleeping better once again.
So far, the new medicine that she’s taking twice a day has minimal side effects. Although, they did say it would take some time before we noticed anything. As a precaution, we took it easy Thursday night and just hung out together. We even popped some popcorn and watched a movie as a family.
But today, we were going to hang out in Fun Town USA for the day and then come back later in the evening to go to the ultra-high-tech dance club; Metamorphoses. Sally also asked if she could bring along Keith, for company. We knew she has been worried about her mom, so we were happy to have someone she “liked” to have fun with. This way, I could hang out with Jennifer, and if she felt ill, I could take her back to the suite, and Sally could stay with Keith.
After a nice breakfast, we headed to the nearest Zipvator station and over to the WOE Complex. Once there, we took the escalator down and made a right into the entrance to Fun Town USA.
There is so much to see and do here, you could literally spend an entire day just in this section. Then again, you could spend a whole day in the State Fair, Show Town or The Continents sections too. The only section that you could go through in half to ¾ of a day would be the Dark Room.
Fun Town USA has literally everything that is fun, to do! A massive, largest in the world, skating rink, movie theaters, game centers, laser tag, virtual reality games, bowling, rope courses, zip lines, dancing, electric go-karts, hide-and-go-seek and more. I mean, this place is a super playground for everyone, at any age.
When you go through the entrance, you go up this conveyor ramp into a world of lights, music, and a party atmosphere. Fun Town USA is open from 11 a.m. to 12 a.m., and later during special nights and events. They have little cafes and places to eat where you can “people watch” and still stay in the action. The four of us went to the arcade first to try our skill at some of the older arcade games and even some of the new ones. Jennifer and I focused on our favorites; like Pac Man and Space Invaders, while Sally and Keith played a lot of the newer games. The arcade is quite expansive and appeared to have over 300 video games, including: Pinball machines, air hockey, skeet ball, and pool tables. All the games are free, and some of the more popular games, like the one’s Sally and Keith were playing, have two or three of each. As you would expect by now, there are colored lights on the ceiling, on the floors and walls and even in the bathrooms, all in festive, party colors. The music was switching between the ’80s through today’s hits. The arcade includes virtual reality rooms where you can compete against other players. There are games or “experiences” as they call them, that you can do on your own or as a family.
One experience we enjoyed was the Natural Wonders Experience. The object of the game is to “capture” Nono Birds in your net while flying a helicopter. You enter a small room filled with motion seats and VR headsets. The room can hold up to six people, but we were one family, so they let us play by ourselves. You can talk to each other and hear everyone’s excitement and screams from the exhilaration. One person (me) controlled the flying, while Sally and Jennifer controlled the nets, Keith was on the lookout. Our experience lasted about 20 minutes and made us feel like we were really flying in a helicopter over famous terrains. Man, was that ever fun!
There’s a fan favorite VR ride called; Grandma’s Sunday Ride. This ride has six, four passenger simulator vehicles that resemble old-time cars. Two passengers in the front and two in the back seat, all with VR headsets. You’re going out with Grandma on a drive through New York City in rush hour traffic to get some milk. Grandma doesn’t seem to be bothered by cars and trucks honking their horns and almost hitting her. In fact, she decides to “hit the gas” and let it go. Hold on, because you’re in for the ride of your life!
We all went to the Ropes Experience; A mind-boggling, adrenaline pumping, walking, and climbing experience. Unlike other rope courses where you’re harnessed and walk on ropes or beams high in the air; this experience takes you into a visually immersive world of unimaginable heights, which make you dig for your courage. The floors, walls, and ceiling are all covered with video images of scenes that change every day. One day may look like Chicago and the ropes you walk on connect from skyscraper to skyscraper. Another day may look like your walking across the Grand Canyon or Niagara Falls. Of course, there are other ropes courses available for the timid, with “closer to the ground” visuals. They even have bungee jumping and Ziplines, all using the same visual effects. Imagine the visual feeling of jumping off the Empire State Building? Complete with high winds and traffic below. All these experiences are free, but reservations are highly recommended, especially for the bungee jumping and the ziplines. Sally and Keith did the Chicago course as Jennifer, and I, did the less timid, two-story course.
We then rode the go-carts in City Race. These fast, electric carts can go up to 30 miles per hour, and the track complex features visual scenes of driving in city streets around the world. There are smaller courses for the younger and older guests who wish to travel at slower speeds. Each race can last ten minutes, so you get plenty of time to really enjoy the experience. You don’t have to race. In fact, there are two separate lanes on the inner part of the track that allow for those drivers who wish to just “site see” the city. There is another track there called the Desert. Here, you race around in a desert, complete with mountains and hills.
Everyone was having a blast, especially Jennifer. I could see that child-like glee on her face as she slipped away from reality and into fantasy. She really needed this. We all did.
After three hours, we decided to grab a bite to eat at the skating rink café, located on the second floor. The kids ordered churros and pizza, while Jennifer and I split a hot dog, corn dog, and fries. We then decided to burn off a few calories with roller skating in Club Wheels.
The Fun Town skating rink, Club Wheels, is absolutely monstrous! You could have 3,500 people skating at once and not notice it was crowded. It has a quarter portion of the rink enclosed, with special effects lighting and video inside. So, as you skate into it, you experience different effects each time, mostly relating to the music playing. They use video mapping on the floor to display scenes like water, the desert, space, and even city streets. The perimeter of the floor and the inside part of the rink always have LED lights lit to show you where the floor edges are. So, no matter how funky the lights get, you always know where the inside and outside edges of the floor are. The outside walls of the rink all have video projection from floor to ceiling. Just like the floor, pictures can also be displayed on the walls to match the images on the floor. There are also videos playing with music. Similar to the ultra-high-tech dance club; Metamorphoses, lights come down from the ceiling. There is a “core” section of lights in the middle of the rink that transform into many different shapes and project many different effects. Pedestrian bridges allow you to walk across to get to the middle of the rink, where there is elevated seating, a café (where we ate lunch), and several dance floors.
We skated for about two hours, and Jennifer hung in there. During one song, the lights went dim, the bass cranked, and at least 200 lasers filled the air while we were skating through the space image. Man, my adrenaline was pumping! I could feel goosebumps all over. Sally and Keith skated hand in hand to a few of the slow songs, while Jennifer and I watched and caught our breath.
Around 4 p.m., Jennifer asked if I wanted to go back to the suite for a little rest before coming back later for a movie and dancing. I was more than happy to oblige. We headed to the nearest Shuttle Pod Station in Fun Town USA and took a quick ride to the Family Hotel Zipvator Station.
I can’t stress enough how gratifying it is to get back to your suite in about 10 minutes. It’s almost a guarantee, that if you’re visiting other theme parks, even if you’re staying overnight on property, it will still take up to an hour to get back to your room. That usually includes walking in the heat, possibly waiting for a monorail, boat, or tram, and then maybe a bus or car. Sometimes, just going from the back of the park to the front can take a while. Here, it’s so convenient. Between the Shuttle Pods, Circle Shuttle and Zipvators, you’re where you want to be in a snap. There’s no need to have to wear comfy sneakers. Many guests wear flip-flops. You wouldn’t think of wearing those in a traditional park.
Jennifer and I both took a shower and ordered our dinner to be delivered to the Portal Box, using our dinner credit. We then took a nice nap. Sally stayed with Keith, and they both went to back to Game Central and then ate dinner together.
Around 7 p.m., we headed back to the Complex to see a movie that was playing at 7:30. We reserved seats for “Beauty and the Beast.” There is no charge for anything in Fun Town USA, except if you want food or adult beverages, and that can be free if you use your meal plan, except the adult beverages. The theater offers free popcorn, and the drinks are, naturally, free. They also offer other goodies that are ridiculously low-priced, compared to the traditional movie theater concessions. $1.50 hot dogs, $1 candy, $1.50 nachos and cheese. All the seats are recliners, where you can change the position with a simple push of a button and kick back. There is plenty of arm and legroom. But my favorite is this; if the crunching and munching of crispy snacks from others bother you, you can bring your own headphones that you can plug into your seat. This is also great if you want the sound louder or softer. They even offer headphones you can borrow, or you can use wireless ones, as they also use Bluetooth.
Fun Town USA has three movie theaters, each with 600 seats. Each theater runs two different films a day, so there is a total of six movies playing daily. During Halloween, they show classic horror films and try to scare the “nerve” out of you. The WOE pays the movie studios for however many guests watch each movie. After watching the film, we met up with Sally and Keith and headed into the world’s most advanced dance club; Metamorphoses.
Metamorphose is much like the Hologram Theater when it comes to technology and special effects. There are visual effects so realistic in both, that you would swear you’re in a different world.
Millions of lights and projection mapping cover everything from floor to ceiling. You’ll feel like you’re dancing on the moon, in New York City’s Times Square; you name it! There are multiple levels and multiple platforms that rise and lower. There are even different sections with their own theme, like The Power Dome; which features a 360-degree plasma tube you dance inside of. The acrylic dance floor is suspended inside the plasma tube, so all the video and lights go entirely above, below, and all around you.
Some areas have purposely amped up the bass, while others are a little quieter for more sensitive guests. There are so many lights connected to trusses that lower from the ceiling or rise from the floor; each with a different lighting package.
The central section of Metamorphosis has a dome ceiling with multiple platforms for dancing. In the center, there is a giant glass globe that sits inside a 100-foot-high by a 60-foot diameter clear cylinder that goes from floor to ceiling. Here, you will see unbelievable, sci-fi effects never seen anywhere else. The globe rises in the cylinder and fills with gases, holograms, fire, and more. At certain times during the night, there is an “Overdrive” level the club hits. You will see yellow warning lights flash around a minute beforehand. That’s telling you to get ready and be prepared to stay where you are. When the Overdrive starts, you will see the most powerful lasers and strobe effects found anywhere. It will coincide with the music and last for about a minute or two.
Live bands play throughout the night on multiple stages, helped by a resident or visiting DJ’s. The club is open from 6 p.m. until 12 a.m. daily and stays open until 2 a.m. or later, on select nights. At 11:00 p.m., all the walls separating the different sections of the club rise and become one giant dance club. The name Metamorphoses is due to the club changing its’ design every night. Each night, as the night wears on, the club slowly “transforms” into something different. The levels, walls, and many sections all slowly move to other positions and configurations. If you leave the dance club at 8 p.m. and come back at 10 p.m., the club will have appeared to have ‘morphed’ into another club.
As I mentioned earlier, due to the realistic level of effects in both Metamorphoses and the Hologram Theater, there have been several instances in the past where guests have taken drugs, like acid or Ecstasy, and had significant “freak outs” due to their reactions to the effects. Luckily, emergency personnel stationed in Fun Town USA were quickly on the scene and were able to help the guests before it was too late.
In the Hologram Theater, specially trained staff watch guests for any signs of trouble. All the Theaters, attractions, and intense rides also have call buttons on the back of each chair. If a guest starts to experience a heart attack, panic attack, or any other issue, they can push the button for help, or a guest next to them can push the button to summon help from the staff. This great lifesaver is brought to everyone’s attention before each show or extreme ride. These are also the same buttons I mentioned earlier that will light up in Yellow if you’re using a phone or camera or are rudely talking during a show. A red light means “you’re out.”
All of us danced and enjoyed the music, lights, and effects for several hours. They had two bands taking turns playing songs, sometimes two or three in a row. Once one band finished playing a song, the other would start immediately, or sometimes they would “mix” one song into another. Both bands are from the Magnificent Twelve. One was playing hits from the ’70s, and the other played the 80’s. After about an hour, another band came on and played hits from the ’90s.
The Metamorphoses Dance Club is a fantastic place to dance without feeling like everyone is watching you. The lighting, videos, and effects keep those watching or taking a breather occupied, and there are so many places to go and dance. So many “unique” sections with bits of privacy.
Drinking is very limited at the WOE. The only drinks served in Fun Town USA are at Metamorphoses and the “live” venue restaurant, Levels. Levels is a sit-down restaurant with four stages. The entertainment switches from one to the other simultaneously, with a variety of bands, singers, magicians, and comics. There are video screens around the restaurant for easy viewing, so you can always see and hear the entertainment, even if you can’t see the stage. As the name implies, the seating is all ‘tired,’ and each level is themed differently from the others. The entertainment is similar to the World Stage entertainment, except Levels usually has more music and comedy. Just like the other restaurants that have a band or music playing, ordering can be done through your Touchpad Ordering Assistant, but a friendly server will assist you and bring you your drinks and food. Of course, you can also use your lunch or dinner credits to pay for your meals if you’d like. Since Levels is in Fun Town USA, its hours are 11 a.m. until 12 a.m. and longer on select nights.
Here’s how the WOE drinking policy works. Each guest’s drinking is monitored by computer and staff. If you’re staying on property, you’ll be allowed more to drink, but I doubt you’ll get drunk. They will usually slow you down beforehand. For those that are there for the day only, your drinks will be spaced out, and you will not even get past a decent buzz unless you’re there to see a concert. Then, they’ll serve you a little more before the show only and start cutting back as the evening wears on. If you’re staying in the Brand Name Hotels, the same policy will apply to those guests staying on property, since you will be taking the Monorail to get back to your hotel. If you are a driver and let them know, they will be happy to serve you drinks with little to no alcohol. They watch to see if any guests are walking a little funny toward the parking garage at closing time. If they observe any impairment from those planning on driving home, they will assist in asking who will be driving and setting up a designated driver, if need be. If it’s just one person by themselves, then they’ll get them to stay for a while until they feel better. I’ve heard there is a lounge in one of the security areas if someone needs a nap.
For some people, this may seem a little ridiculous. But for many guests, they don’t want to deal with drunks, rudeness, being “hit on”, or fights. The idea is to have fun, not to make money pushing booze. Metamorphoses is not a bar, but a dance club, and they want you to have an enjoyable time; not ruin it for someone else or hurt someone in a car crash going home.
All their staff are very well-trained to spot potential problems, and they will send for “assistance” to help guide you to a “better state of mind”, if need be. If you don’t cooperate you may be gently taken for a walk to a more conducive environment. Not jail or anything harsh, but a place where you can calm down. The WOE understands that some guests may have a rough night due to a combination of medication or alcohol and other substances. They won’t call the police, as they have their own security and just want to get things calm as quickly as possible. Any unruly behavior can get you cut off the next night or in bad situations; dropped as a Member and prohibited from coming back. Remember, you need a reservation to be here, and then you must be identified when you come in. But I’ve seldom heard of any issues, and those I did hear of were so small and were handled quickly and professionally.
So, the drinking is only in: Metamorphoses, Levels, sit-down restaurants in the Complex, The Concert Lounge, and at the hotels. That’s it! Since everything is tracked by computer, you can’t go from one restaurant to another and think you can continue drinking. If you think your smart and drink alcohol you brought from home to get a head start, and then go to the Complex, be warned. If they suspect you are already “tipsy” when ordering, they can ask that you perform a breathalyzer test before being served. There is no walking around The Complex drinking a beer or a mixed drink. This is indeed a family environment, and a close eye is kept on your safety and the safety of others. I love it!
Soon after the walls went up in Metamorphoses, we left Fun Town USA and headed back to our suite. I couldn’t tell you the last time any of us had that much fun. From the video gaming and VR Experiences, skating, the movie, to dancing; we did it all. The best part about Fun Town USA is that you can come back anytime. You can make reservations for the skating rink or Metamorphoses, as well as the ropes courses, zip lines, VR Experiences, and laser tag. But you don’t need to. If any of them are at capacity, you can request a notification when the one you want to visit becomes available. Just like the State Fair, you can go and have fun for an hour or all day.
After getting back to our suite, Jennifer and I went to shower, while Sally and Keith wrapped things up in the hallway (I’m sure with a good night kiss). What a day and night! The best, yet! Thank you, doctors!