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View Full Version : Part 3: Our Trip. 90% Chance of Rain.


Bob NC
06-25-2002, 09:21 PM
Part 3: 90% chance of rain?

Now to continue Bob and Jane's epic saga.....

We left a wake up call for 6:20, and were disappointed that Mickey didn’t make the call. It was just a call...Nobody was there.

I get up and look out the window...it‘s dark....nothing....I see nothing. “We’re changing rooms”!!! I left a room service card on the door last night requesting a pot of coffee and some pastries to be delivered between 6:30 and 7:00. It got to the room at 6:30 on the nose, ($16.80). I take a shower and get ready, then go back to the balcony. I step out there and see Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Blue Cranes, Crowned Cranes, Marabou Stork, Ostrich, HUGE Vultures, about 5 or 6 Bongo, a buncha Waterbuck, a half dozen or so Gazelle, some other assorted animals and 3 GIRAFFE!!!!!! Holy Cow Batman, we’ve hit the Mother Lode.

Ok, we’ll keep this room. Maybe Mark was on the mar....nevermind. Maybe Mark was right. We sat on the Balcony and ate our pastries, drank our coffee, and talked about what we’d do today. I am determined not to do anything commando related. Right, this from a guy who went to sleep at 1 and left a wake-up call for 6:20.

We were told by everyone we came in contact with last night that it rained ALL day yesterday. I turned on the weather and they said today has a 90% chance of raining all day. That’s bad. I don’t like ponchos, and I don’t like walking around in the rain.

We decide to hit what has probably become our favorite park, Disney-MGM Studios. Whenever we have a car we drive from our resort to the parks and basically look down our noses at the poor saps who wait at bus stops. They always look like hot, tired, vagrants of some sort and we expect some of them to be playing instruments and have an open guitar case in front of them to collect change from us ‘drivers’ passing them by. Our experience in trying to use the buses is that on our first day we dutifully report to the bus stop....Wait maybe 10 or 15 minutes, then go get the car out of valet and use it for the remainder of the trip. This time, however, we vowed to use the bus, (or, at least give it one try, lol). We went to the lobby, cut through the Zawadi, and headed for the bus. We waited maybe 5 or 6 minutes for an MGM bus and we remained faithful bus riders for the rest of the trip, (with one minor exception to be noted later).

A NEW bus picked us up, it was my first time being on one of them. I like them, though it looks like they have less seats, they must have spent that missing seat money on the straps hanging down to hold onto. We pulled into the MGM lot at like 8:30 and there were only a couple rows of cars there...UNTIL, we see that that second lot past the trees is jammed up jelly tight with cars. We hop off the bus and head towards the gate, out front of MGM they have this giant, inflatable, blue, mean looking, animal with huge flesh ripping teeth...”Welcome to Disney-MGM Studios”....Jane told me that it was Lilo or Stitch....Even she didn’t know which one. If that was Lilo, I’m not sure I want to see Stitch.

We approach the security tables. I head straight on thru since I’m not carrying anything. However, Jane has to wait in line for security since she’s carrying the cooler, folding chairs, and bag containing change of clothes, dry shoes, mole skin, bathing suits, 12 pack of water purchased from Goodings, George Foreman Grill, crockpot and, of course, refillable mugs!! I’m kidding, she just had a little backpack with my daily supplies in it. We get past security and what do you think we find? The end of the line!!!! Now, lemme tell ya something...We have never been to WDW during a busy season...We’ve been in Sept, Oct, end of April, and May. Usually when we arrive at MGM the line is maybe 6 to 7 people long. This line...scuse me, THESE lines had hundreds of people in EACH line. They were waaaay out past the ticket booths. This was new to us and we decided we may need to change our plans a tad. Where oh where are those laminated copies of the Commando Touring Plan from the Unofficial Guide when you need them?

Now we’re figuring we’ll go into MGM, get in line for Tower of Terror....Ride the ride, then get in line for Fantasmic! They let us in at about 8:50 and we head for TOT. Of course they have the rope set up halfway down that road leading to TOT, so we stop and wait like everyone else. Well, like everyone else except the people who come up behind us and think it’s okay to just squeeze past us. What is it with people that when they get to a line, they figure it’s their right to slide up in front of you, then slide in front of the person in front of you, etc, etc, etc?

So, after I elbow a few old ladies and cut a few achilles tendons with my razor knife, they drop the rope and off we go. Straight to get a FastPass for TOT. Then it’s off to RnR for the first ride of the day. We wait in line for maybe 10 minutes having a very pleasant conversation with a woman and her 2 girls in front of us. We get into the building and the woman’s 2 girls and I just HAVE to run our hands up and down over the marble door. Doesn’t EVERYONE do that? Suddenly over the PA system we hear “Don’t touch the marble door”....We, of course, ignore that until we hear...”DON’T TOUCH THE MARBLE DOOR”. Why on God’s green earth would they put a marble door within reach of me if they don’t want me to touch it? I mean, it’s like a ‘wet paint’ sign or a puppy...Ya just HAVE to touch it. We continue onto the ride without touching ANYTHING. As we approach the loading area I tell Jane how much I hate riding this ride first thing in the morning because the jostling always gives me a headache first thing in the morning. But, that’s really the best time to ride it as far as the waits and such go. When we get inside I asked for 1st row. There was no additional wait for first row at this time. This ride was great as always, but I have to tell you something. The first row is SOOOO much smoother a ride than anywhere else on the car. We couldn’t believe how smooth it was in comparison to further back in the limo. Anyone who is not too crazy about coasters should definitely try to ride in the front seat of RnR if they can.

Ok, we finish the ride....Look at the pic, (it’s not too good, cuz it’s of US), and head out. There’s still a little wait for the TOT FastPass return so we decide to just hang out on the corner rather than leaving and returning. We are looking at the traffic on this street and we really can’t believe how much busier it is than what we’re used to. We look over to the FastPass return entrance for TOT, and of course it is absolutely jammed with people who’s return time is like eons from now. Why do people get a FastPass and go immediately to stand in front of the FastPass entrance in anticipation of their ride? Is this weird behavior, or what? Do you ever call your dentist and get a 3 pm appointment, then drive down there at 9 am to wait outside the front door? Looking at these people I wonder to myself if they show up early for work every morning just waiting for 7 am so they can punch in and get right to work. Uh huh, yeah.

We proceed up the FastPass line, bypassing all the poor saps who just don’t understand the concept and choose to wait in 45 minute lines. They all look at us like we’re doing something wrong, when in actuality we’re looking at them like, well, like we’re doing something wrong.

Did they do away with the seatbelt seat? They didn’t put anyone in it in the 2 elevators previous to us, or ours. It seemed like the drop sequence was different than it was just last month, like there were a few shorter drops added in. Don’t quote me on that though, I mean, I’m sure there’s folks out there who can recite every word from the attraction and tell you the measurement of every drop...But, I’m not one of those people, it just seemed different to me. If they really made changes, it seemed better, we enjoyed it. Exiting the ride we purchased Cappuccino’s at that coffee stand and some of those twist on Mickey head straws that you put on a soda bottle, (pop bottle for you folks from Wisconsin).

Then it was off to see Muppets. By some strange confluence of congestionalities, I missed Muppets on our May trip, so I just had to see it this time. We headed over there thinking we’d get FastPasses, but there was only like a 10 minute wait for the next show, so we entered. I have to add something here....When we left that road that Stop Drop and Roll is on, (TOT & RnR), the crowds dropped dramatically. That street was the only busy street in the park. We couldn’t believe it. We had heard horror stories of WDW in the summer and this just wasn’t jiving with what we expected. Don’t get me wrong, this was a pleasant surprise, but a surprise none the less.

When we went into the Muppet theater, they even dispensed with that “Move all the way down the row, blah, blah, blah”. I believe they said something like, “Sit wherever you want, and some of you can even be IN the show if you so desire”. It was so empty that I asked Jane if she wanted to join , “The Muppet High Club”, sorry, couldn’t resist. The frogs and pigs were wonderful as usual even as I silently wondered to myself just who wore these glasses last.

There was a short debate following Muppets as to whether or not we should attend WWTBAM. Now, on our last trip in May there was a very unfortunate incident. We went to the first show of the day and I won the first fastest finger question. My stay in the hotseat was oh so brief as the question was very confusing and not just a tad ambiguous. I’d like to go into this subject in more detail, but my attorney says litigation is imminent and I should obey the gag order. But, just let me ask you a simple question.....If you find a complex problem with many outside factors coming into play...Would you consider that a hornets nest...or, a rats nest? Nuff said. And that was a freekin $100 question...I always thought $100 questions were like..oh nevermind.

So, we headed directly from Muppets to One Man’s Dream. Now, if you were Walt’s banker, wouldn’t you go hide every time you saw him come in the front door? He had a few strange ideas, but, he had enough great ideas to cover up the insane ones...lol. This display is really awesome and I think they should find a place for it even after this 100 Year thingy is up. I’m just old enough where I remember seeing this dude on tv talking about all this stuff, and he really was a genius. He knew what people wanted, he knew how to give it to them, and he knew how to treat them while he was doing all of it. Thankfully, enough of his vision really does live on today at WDW. No matter what anyone says about the petty little changes they make at WDW every year, I think they always try to do what’s best for the customer while balancing it with what they HAVE to do for their shareholders. There’s nowhere else that we go as often for vacations, and I think we’re not the only ones.

After we finished that One Man’s Dream baloney, we headed for the Great Movie Ride. This was another one that I missed last month. BUT, we had the SAME girl driving our, (car? ride? vehicle?), thing that we rode in TWO years ago. We had Gangster side, and it was great as always.

There was lots of stopping in shops and shopping and such that I didn’t think you’d be interested in earlier, so, that explains why it’s now getting close to 11:30. We wanted to see Beauty & the Beast at the first show at noon, so we started heading over there. When we arrived the theater was over half full. We sat a little over halfway back and waited. These guys, Four for a Dollar, sang before the show and they were awesome. They sang some old songs and did some harmonizing and stuff and it made the wait enjoyable. This theater has aluminum benches with backs on them. Why would a grown man sit behind someone and constantly reshuffle his feet against the back of your seat? Does he realize your back is on the other side of that 1/8th inch sheet of metal? When you turn around and glare at him 47 times, does he realize you have some type of problem? The answer to both of those questions is a resounding NO. We hadn’t seen this show in years and it was as good as we remembered.

I have to insert a little disclaimer here. When I go on a Disney vacation, nothing REALLY bothers me much. I mean, we all have little things that bug us, but, things that happen in the real world that would cause me to jump up and down and complain don’t have that same effect on me when I’m at Disney. I can rant and rave in this report just because I find most of these problems and peccadilloes that other folks have...well...funny. A waiter that treats me wrong down the street from my house in NC will get far different treatment from a waiter that treats me wrong at WDW. Not that the treatment should be different, it’s just that MY reaction will be different. LOL, down the street, I’ll complain to the manager and get all ticked off, not leave a tip and be mad all nite....At WDW, I’ll leave him 15% , tell the manager and then forget it. Hey, it’s my vacation.

Ya ever see that stand across from the entrance to B & B that sells hot dogs and stuff? We decided to eat there today. I had noticed earlier in the morning, before they were open, that they have Polish sausage. Now there’s lines at all their 4 open windows. Jane went and snagged a table while I waited in line. The way they operate is they have a chain divider at each window. You line up on the right side of the chain where it says “Order”, in order to make an order. On the left side of the chain, where it says “exit”, is where you exit. When you line up on the right side, in a line with 8 or more people in it...You are constantly telling the people who walk up and get in the exit line that they are in the wrong place. “Do you see all these lines?...Really, then why would you think you can walk past them and go to the front”? Anyway, ‘those’ people are going to be ‘those’ people and there’s nothing we can do about them. It’s the people with the total lack of common sense, again, that get to me. I had a group of 3 in front of me. These are tight quarters, with people bumping into each other everywhere. The 3 in front of me consisted of a middle aged woman with a maybe 20 year old man and an 18 year old. They ordered then waited in the exit line. Pushing and shoving is going on with people everywhere trying to get past each other and such. Then their order comes. These 3 people pick up their order....1 hot dog. Yes, I said 1 hot dog. 3 people crowded into an overcrowded line to wait for 20 minutes to be served, had people bumping into them, bumped into other people, to get 1 hot dog. I wish Ann Landers hadn’t died, cuz she needs to tell these folks to wake up and smell the coffee.

After lunch we decide to do some major window shopping then head back to AKL for a swim, (and a few poolside mudslides), to rest up for the Spectromagic tonite.

And you know what? That 90% hasn’t started yet.........


PS...Lunch was 1 footlong hot dog, 1 polish sausage with peppers & onions, 1 bag of chips, 1 Bud Light and 1 Coke, $18.71.

Spaceman Spiff
06-25-2002, 11:12 PM
I am really enjoying your reports! Quite the comedic writer you are. :D

pumba
06-26-2002, 07:58 AM
we went in april and not one drop fell on our bodies...can you believe that....Hopefully august 30th on will be a dry few days too....but I doubt it.....I love the place near B & B for food too...we always try to eat there and just sit and people watch....thanks again

cshaffer21
06-26-2002, 10:22 AM
I love your reports!!!I know what you mean about going to WDW more than anywhere else. We do that also. Shouldn't we be taking our kids on trips to experience the US, Canada, the world? Nah. Whenever we do venture away from home I always compare it to WDW, and it just doesn't measure up.

Some people complain about the prices of the motels in WDW. If we want to rent a room at the Jersey shore in the summer-it's at least $200.00 a night for a moldy, sandy room with poor service, that can't even begin to compare to the All Stars.

OK, off my soap box!! Can't wait to read the rest.

Annie&Hallie'sMom
06-26-2002, 11:09 AM
The Muppet High Club?!?!?! :o :jester: And you didn't join? ;)

Can't wait to read more of your wonderful adventures!

Pirate Mickey
06-27-2002, 11:19 AM
I'm sure glad to hear that you were able to see so many animals to start your day. Hopefully that was the norm and not the exception.

I'd like to know if anyone has gone on RnR and NOT touched the marble door at least once.

I can feel your pain from WWTBAM. It looks so easy from the seats. I think they have a list of questions to give to certain people to rotate more people into the hotseat. Why else would they give a dad a question about perfume? Everyone knows that the only thing a dad will know about perfume is what brand his wife wears. And that is only if you ask him right before a birthday, Christmas, or an anniversary because that is the only time he checks. Sorry about the personal rant here. Can you guess what question I missed?

Thanks for the report. I love to re-live my own experiences by reading other trip reports. The Four For A Dollar show is as much fun as the actual B&B show. We always make sure we get there early so we don't miss it.

Thanks!

wdwfan
06-27-2002, 04:15 PM
I'm so glad the room worked out! I'm really enjoying your reports. I'm about to dive into day 4.

lUVTOGO
06-28-2002, 06:23 PM
I too am enjoying your reports!!They are easy to read and enjoyable. Any plans for a Disney Cruise? Would love to read that trip report!!

Tinkbell
06-29-2002, 11:15 AM
Whenever we have a car we drive from our resort to the parks and basically look down our noses at the poor saps who wait at bus stops. They always look like hot, tired, vagrants of some sort and we expect some of them to be playing instruments and have an open guitar case in front of them to collect change from us ‘drivers’ passing them by.

LOL!! That is such a funny vision.

Tartan Tigger
06-29-2002, 01:08 PM
Great report, onto part 4.........:)

swankybeth
07-02-2002, 09:45 AM
Great report! Glad your room turned out well. :)

Deb8821
07-02-2002, 03:47 PM
I was just going to log on for a minute but started your trip reports and have to keep reading! Sounds like your having too much fun!! Keep up the great writing - it sure is making my day!!

zurgswife
07-03-2002, 07:04 AM
Thanks Bob I needed a laught this morning.....I'm really enjoying your reports....:D

Bennet
07-04-2002, 01:52 PM
100% chance of humor

Liz
07-04-2002, 10:32 PM
GREAT!!!! You have great wit!!!! Loving it!!!

Bennet
07-08-2002, 06:09 PM
:jester:

kenyadh
07-10-2002, 12:30 PM
Enjoying your report. I needed the laugh today here at work since the hours are dragging and I'm barely making a dent in my work. ;)

erikthewise
07-10-2002, 09:44 PM
Bob,

Did you know you can buy pictures of OTHER people when you get off a coaster?! In fact in your case (and mine too), I'd recommend it.

kathymc
07-29-2002, 11:14 AM
don't know how I missed these reports - but I am having a ball catching up

great job - thanks for the laughs!

His_Lordship
07-30-2002, 12:36 PM
A hornet's nest! Great report.,

nativetxn
10-29-2002, 12:49 PM
I wish Ann Landers hadn’t died, cuz she needs to tell these folks to wake up and smell the coffee.

I am so laughing out loud here! You make me laugh and this report was a lot of fun to read :) Thanks for taking the time to post this.

Katholyn

QJ411
10-29-2002, 01:38 PM
too too funy...muppet high club? I like that...cute...:teeth:

UncleKyle
03-26-2003, 10:15 PM
Man, I can't believe I'm just now reading these trip reports! Someone needs to start PMing me when a funny one hits the boards. These are great. I was a CM at Disney and everything you point out is something all CMs complain about day in and day out. I never thought their were that many ignorant people in this world till I worked at Disney. It seems that whenever anyone goes on vacation they leave their brains at home. :)

sm4987
03-30-2003, 07:01 PM
Great trip report. I'm glad you hit the motherload of animals. I want to stay at the AK, and now I think I know the secret!!

p-nut
04-01-2003, 11:05 AM
:Pinkbounc :Pinkbounc

CarolynU
04-02-2003, 01:50 PM
Great read again. There's something even better than being kicked in the back whilst sitting in a metal seat, and that's when immediately the show starts the back kickers strike up a loud and long conversation which doesn't stop until the show finishes.

BrerMom
05-10-2003, 06:39 PM
Stop Drop and Roll is on, (TOT & RnR) :jester:

Minniespal
05-12-2003, 04:54 AM
Thanks for sharing your reports with us....

DisOrBust
05-12-2003, 09:21 PM
Did you find a bubbler???

Minniespal
07-25-2003, 04:30 AM
Thanks for sharing ~ Wonderful reviews!!!!!

lwestwise
03-25-2004, 10:42 AM
bump, more to come.

tinawv
03-25-2004, 12:16 PM
The Muppet High Club

What would Miss Piggy think? LOL;)