Hi Glenn! When you mentioned Saturn it reminded me of when we bought a new Saturn. It wasn't at the factory but when they gave us the keys they had the whole dealership come out and sing and cheer for us.
Not quite the Corvette factory, but it was exciting at the time.
Thanks Glenn!! He is pretty sure he'd go out again if called up. $4,000 in a week is nothing to sneeze at. 16 hour days of sitting in the 100 degree heat, running to and from the fire, camping in a tent, etc... yeah, I think they deserve it.
You should Google the security camera video!! It's unreal. You can see the cars simply disappear! Fwooop!
Yes, I"m sure the processes were quite similar. A lot of noise, people, busy-ness, etc.... I found it fascinating.
Lots going on... always.
First of all, I'm 90% sure I've made our resort choice. Or is it resort choices??? Hmmmm.... I invite you to stay tuned to find out! Big(ger) things happening now on our trip front as some things seem to be becoming clearer. How exciting is THAT?!
But before I share, I must face another day at work. Luckily it's an early morning shift, so I'll have a bit of time in the afternoon to write some things up.
Happy birthday, Little Maddox!!! 3 is so full of wonder and excitment! No school yet, play all day, naps.... man! I'd love to be 3 again!
Yes, 3 is super fun, thanks! He spent his birthday running around with Londynn's pink Super girl cape, (because his bigger brother Mase had the red Superman one) and got a Kareoke machine from us - his favorite song??? "De De Do!" (Let it go) from Frozen!
Yes, AK is a place where both being busy AND just sitting are all win situations. It really has the best of both worlds. Haha! That's funny about Rafiki's. We had a GREAT experience there and no issues with trains, but I CAN see that happening. Hmmm.... I think it's worth it if you have several trips into AK, but for a single morning or day into AK, not so much.
Tammie... DO think about a Ladies' Tripp in 2017. I think it would be fabulous to get 4 like-minded women together to share the cost of a resort room, get 6 day PH's and just explore together. Can you imagine the shenanigans?????
Oh the places we would go!!! I will keep in in mind, thank you. I also started thinking maybe a long weekend during your F&W trip might be doable for Jim and I. We will have enough extra points to borrow, and we can get the military passes. Airfare is relatively decent from here and Allegiant is coming, which makes it even better except for no ME from that airport. Anyway, maybe, just maybe we will meet up!!!!
Thanks Glenn!! He is pretty sure he'd go out again if called up. $4,000 in a week is nothing to sneeze at. 16 hour days of sitting in the 100 degree heat, running to and from the fire, camping in a tent, etc... yeah, I think they deserve it.
You should Google the security camera video!! It's unreal. You can see the cars simply disappear! Fwooop!
Yes, I"m sure the processes were quite similar. A lot of noise, people, busy-ness, etc.... I found it fascinating.
That's actually even more cool! They didn't sing at the Corvette "Nursery".
It's funny how different mentions make us think of different things. For example, @Steppesister 's whole post made me think of this George Jones song. I'm not a Country fan, but ya gotta love those lyrics.
Now that's some nice moolah! I bet that helps out a lot.
I found some pictures on Google. I'm afraid I'd cry if I saw video.
I agree. I thought it was fascinating also.
It's funny how different mentions make us think of different things. For example, @Steppesister 's whole post made me think of this George Jones song. I'm not a Country fan, but ya gotta love those lyrics.
Now that's some nice moolah! I bet that helps out a lot.
I found some pictures on Google. I'm afraid I'd cry if I saw video.
I agree. I thought it was fascinating also.
You tease!
Have a great day at work today...can't wait to hear all the new updates!
Jill in CO
While Liesa is at work.....Let's take a poll about which resort it will be..... I'm going to guess Art of Animation, because it is new, there are family suites, and it is still more affordable for the newlyweds tagging along, and for a large group. Have a good day, Liesa!(or as Maddox says, "hadda dee day!"
I forgot that ever happened, until your TR
Fun Song - I have to wonder though, not being a country fan, how it popped into your head??? I am a country fan, and did not remember that song. Of course my memory is a little
Lots going on... always.
First of all, I'm 90% sure I've made our resort choice. Or is it resort choices??? Hmmmm.... I invite you to stay tuned to find out! Big(ger) things happening now on our trip front as some things seem to be becoming clearer. How exciting is THAT?!
Ok, first of all. I lied.
Anyway, I walked in the door after being up since 4:30 at 6:00 with a ginormous pizza in hand.
I could have spilled my thoughts on resort plans. But I didn't. Yet...
Sad day for you. But hey, you can send all of that my way.
And no, I won't trade my bacon for it.
We need more lawyers with sense. Common sense. And wisdom, ethics and a conscience. As well as a hefty dose of humility.
By now you're on Day 2. I'll pop over to your thread to see if I can find any live updates.
the Bowling Green Assembly Plant- the only place in the world Corvettes are put together.
For a 2-hour tour, ...a 2-hour tour,
However, being stranded on a tropical island doesn't sound too bad right about now.
The first 4 parking rows, in their entirety, are reserved for Corvettes or "American-Made Cars Only".
As you walk under the ped tunnel into the Visitor's Entrance Doors, you are reminded by way of ginormous signs that cameras of ANY kind are NOT allowed, close-toed shoes are required, and no backpacks or even purses are allowed. AT all.
Anyway, while we waited they showed a nice propaganda film aggrandizing Corvettes which was completely unnecessary. I'm pretty sure anyone who was on the tour in the first place was a pretty big fan of Corvettes, and it was rather preaching to the choir, so to speak.
Well, that and I'd have constant anxiety over parking lot door dings.
Automated carts transporting parts on magnetic tracks zipped by us, men and women were using robotic machines to assemble everything for doors to installing hoods and trunks, robots gently slid engines onto chassis, and all around us was a cacophany of noise. But it was not chaos. Far from it! Every station worked together, yet independently, like a well-oiled machine. Each station had a reader board above it telling the workers how they were trending- that is how far ahead or behind schedule they were with how many they've assembled during the shift. On this particular day, they were about 8 cars behind where they needed to be at 2:30ish. Every car is made to order, so the number they make each day, week, or month fluctuates widely with the economy and other factors, but the average for the month of July, 2015 was about 170 cars/day.
They have a new program where you can come in as often as you like and build your own car from start to finish putting in every nut and bolt, then have your own name stamped on the car saying you were the assembler.
Yes, it would be fun; no, I'll never have that kind of money.
The last steps of the assembly plant are the vehicle testing stations. OH. MY. GOODNESS!!! :allcapscuzit'ssocool: IT IS FREAKING JUST LIKE THE TEST TRACK!! Friends, they test every stinking Corvette just like in the ride. Right there inside the plant, they drive it over a rough surface for a few feet and check for squeaks, they put it through a heat test, a water test, and a tester sits inside to test every button and doohickey for defects. I was blown away. And yes, I thought of all of you as I was ending my tour, wishing you could all be with me seeing the real thing. Honestly, Test Track will be SOOOO much more enjoyable now that I've seen a REAL GM plant; and I can attest that it is very much in so many ways quite authentic in how a REAL assembly plant/ testing plant sounds, feels, looks, and operates. It was definitely a geeky, cool couple of hours and I would highly recommend it to you, especially families with kids. It was very educational to see a piece of the "backbone of America"- Henry Ford was onto something.
My own opinion is that it is a bit of bad form on GM's part to not have a shuttle available at least.
I simply got in some guys face and said, "Hey, my sister dumped us here, and we need to get over to the Museum. Can we bum a ride?". In a nice way.
At about 2:00PM AT&T went dark and to this day, I, and a LOT of other people are convinced it was actually a terrorist attack. They did announce it was a cut cable, but were oddly silent on who or how.
Yes, I threatened that nice guy with a knuckle sandwich if he didn't take we 2 sweet and innocent looking ladies the mile over to the Museum
About 2 dozen Corvette employees were lined up on both sides, an upper management type handed him the keys, and he turned over the engine and revved it up a couple of times. The excitement was electric and he slid it into first gear, then gently pulled his car out of the showroom to a rousing round of applause. Someone's dream had just come true, and it was rather a special moment for everyone in the room to get to share.
But the highlight of the Museum was the sinkhole area.
if you are ever in or around Nashville or southern Kentucky, the Corvette Plant and Museum are truly worth the hour's drive for. You won't be sorry!
So then, how about a mid-morning Dawa Bloody Mary while a group plays there??
Of course, that may lower my chances of spotting DeVine, but by then I won't even really care.
Hello, Readers! Are you still out there!!??
Got (finally) our State tax refund of a little over $200 bucks today, which I probably should earmark for 2 days of food.
It is really beginning to feel REAL; 2nd Year of Nursing School will be starting soon!!!
Hoping that my FireBound Hubby comes home tonight. Haven't had any news from him in a couple of days, so I really just don't know.
Ok, first of all. I lied.
It's his first "job" away from home and he'll be repsonsible for cooking for himself all that week and sleeping in a new place all by himself.
Anyway, I walked in the door after being up since 4:30 at 6:00 with a ginormous pizza in hand.
Well, he finally got his cast off 2 weeks ago, and has one last follow up appt. tomorrow,
We'll see if my mind clears in 20 minutes or so to type up a coherent post about where we plan to stay and why. And when. And all that.
Don't forget to wipe the pizza sauce off your hands before you type
Only instead of a tropical island... you'd be stuck in Kentucky...For a 2-hour tour, ...a 2-hour tour, we thought it was a fantastic price. Especially if we made it back. However, being stranded on a tropical island doesn't sound too bad right about now.
The first 4 parking rows, in their entirety, are reserved for Corvettes or "American-Made Cars Only". In that order. Everyone else can hike, and they don't apologize.
Cool! Just like the Design Studio at Test Track!!!!My favorite however, was the brand new room where one could come to the plant and build their very own engine for their very own Corvette. They have a new program where you can come in as often as you like and build your own car from start to finish putting in every nut and bolt, then have your own name stamped on the car saying you were the assembler.
Um... yeah, completely not like the new and updated Test Track. Sadly.The last steps of the assembly plant are the vehicle testing stations. OH. MY. GOODNESS!!! :allcapscuzit'ssocool: IT IS FREAKING JUST LIKE THE TEST TRACK!! Friends, they test every stinking Corvette just like in the ride. Right there inside the plant, they drive it over a rough surface for a few feet and check for squeaks, they put it through a heat test, a water test, and a tester sits inside to test every button and doohickey for defects. I was blown away. And yes, I thought of all of you as I was ending my tour, wishing you could all be with me seeing the real thing. Honestly, Test Track will be SOOOO much more enjoyable now that I've seen a REAL GM plant; and I can attest that it is very much in so many ways quite authentic in how a REAL assembly plant/ testing plant sounds, feels, looks, and operates.
Yeah, that is poor planning on their part. But I guess in their defense it isn't like they're in the middle of an urban center where people would come in using public transportation. For the most part people are going to be driving in there anyway. The random person visiting family and being dropped off for the day is probably somewhat of a rare occurrence.NO WAY to get over to the Corvette Museum. No one told us that it was a freaking mile from the Plant to Museum. My own opinion is that it is a bit of bad form on GM's part to not have a shuttle available at least. I mean wouldn't it be obvious that most folks who take the time to see the plant would also want to see the historic cars??
What? Are you implying that the terrorists would actually practice and they'd try to keep that from us?At about 2:00PM AT&T went dark and to this day, I, and a LOT of other people are convinced it was actually a terrorist attack. They did announce it was a cut cable, but were oddly silent on who or how. I'll leave you to your own research and conclusions, but some are saying that there are groups doing "soft" attacks to "practice" for "bigger and better" things
Sounds about right. Probably a good park to pick for the morning after your late night at the party. With FP+ you can set some for the big rides and then just take your time and make it a leisurely day. And if you miss RD, you miss RD.Luckily for me, AK is a pretty laid back park and there isn't a ton of MUST-DOs other than EE right off the bat, a jalepeno cream cheese pretzel for breakfast, a Safari ride (a very maybe), and the Nemo Show. The rest of the morning I can easily see us just slowing WAY down to walk the trails, many of which none of my kids have ever seen.
Shame on you!Ok, first of all. I lied.
Cool! Good luck, Zach!It's his first "job" away from home and he'll be repsonsible for cooking for himself all that week and sleeping in a new place all by himself. Yes, I know he's 17, but he is not like other 17 year olds in many ways. It's very exciting for all of us! And he'll make a little stipend for his time. (read Disney spending money...)
Good movie. I hope you did.But it's been a long day, and they are about to start Catching Fire. I *might* have to indulge
I hope everything is fine with the follow up.Remember that broken arm ANd broken shoulder that he got on the *last* day of school? During the *last* 20 minutes?? Yeah, that one. Well, he finally got his cast off 2 weeks ago, and has one last follow up appt. tomorrow, thus rendering my morning off useless as far as DISsing.
Still here and reading! I am excited to hear your plans on resort choice! I think we check in just a day or two ahead of you next year by the way our tickers look !
Taking care of yourself is slightly more important than keeping us updated! Wine and pizza...one of my favorite combos!
Jill in CO
So glad Mike is home!
Can't wait to read all about it!
Feel free to come walk in our door with a ginormous pizza anytime. I'll PM you my address.
Such a tease.
You need a little R & R. When the computer actually gets used in the evening, I can either catch up or post an update. Tonight I chose Catch up.... again.
I can??!?!??!?
Sure. And unicorns. Don't forget unicorns.
Sorry your trip over was in vain.
I don't do live updates.... well, other than the "I'm melting!!!" comment.
Cool! I had no idea you could do that!
So... Are you Mary Ann or Ginger?
Especially (for you) it would appear that there's a never-ending supply of coconut cream pie.
Huh. When in Rome...
Just a tad strict, no?
I dunno. Wouldn't it pump you up further for the tour? Or was it obnoxious?
Tell me about it.
Or you'd get keyed by some jealous moron.
All the above.... too cool for words.
No way! How cool would that be?!?!?
No words.
Not just a shuttle... a stretch Corvette shuttle.
Definitely Mary Ann.
Cut cable. It does happen from time to time. It's happened a few times to me with my work.
Yup. Definitely. Mary Ann.
Can you imagine being in that driver's seat? You'd feel like a God or something.
Ah, yes. I do remember that.
Thanks so much for sharing that with us! I had no idea.
I can only hope that if I get down that way again, that I remember this!
Sounds like a well thought out... hick!... plan.
Precisely. DeVine, shmine... hick!
Nope. Too busy hurting myself.
I presume you mean 2 days of food at Disney, right?
Just say "right".
You go girl!
Must be tough on you. Hopefully by the time you read this, you'll already have received that hug from him.
First off, Yay for Mike coming home!
You what?!?!?
I'm outta here!
Oh, wait. Then I won't know which resort you're picking.... hmmm..... guess I'll stick around.
Good luck to him!
I think I just fell in love.
How is he progressing?
I have no doubt that you will let us all know.
It's the "coherent" part that I'm wondering about...
Wine posting? I had a group of disers I would get together with in the dis chat and have drinks and post. Fun chats. Now we just run by on Facebook occasionally.
Don't forget to wipe the pizza sauce off your hands before you type
Just lick the keyboard.
I am back! And it took me a long time to get caught up on your thread! For someone who did not have a lot of time during the summer, you managed to do a lot of updating! I need to go back through your planning notes and add some comments on a few things you mentioned, I hope to find some time soon!
And I loved reading about Kentucky! I wonder whether @nodnol considered visiting the Corvette factory when she was in Kentucky...
Only instead of a tropical island... you'd be stuck in Kentucky...
Cool! Just like the Design Studio at Test Track!!!!
Um... yeah, completely not like the new and updated Test Track. Sadly.
Yeah, that is poor planning on their part. But I guess in their defense it isn't like they're in the middle of an urban center where people would come in using public transportation. For the most part people are going to be driving in there anyway. The random person visiting family and being dropped off for the day is probably somewhat of a rare occurrence.
What? Are you implying that the terrorists would actually practice and they'd try to keep that from us?
Sounds about right. Probably a good park to pick for the morning after your late night at the party. With FP+ you can set some for the big rides and then just take your time and make it a leisurely day. And if you miss RD, you miss RD.
Shame on you!
Cool! Good luck, Zach!
Good movie. I hope you did.
I hope everything is fine with the follow up.