GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes
If it’s still here tomorrow… I may ignore it again
- Joined
- Jan 20, 2007
Rocky Mountain Highs (a non-Disney Trip Report) - COMPLETE 2/17
- Thread starter Captain_Oblivious
- Start date
afwdwfan
DIS Dad #460
- Joined
- Apr 23, 2010
You're just showing your age.
And this just confirms that age comment.
Well, unless something has changed, I didn't think he had a smart phone. So playing Candy Crush or checking FB on the phone while watching a movie is impossible. And it makes it irrelevant.
franandaj
I'm so happy, I could BOUNCE!
- Joined
- Nov 15, 2009
I don't do it all the time. Once I get tired (usually after dinner) I. An only do one thing at once.
Pkondz an I are pretty much the same age. At least six months out of the year.
And I think Mark & Julie may have upgraded their dumb phone because they both have phones now.
Captain_Oblivious
DIS Dad #257, Galactic Salad Dodger
- Joined
- Nov 10, 2008
How adorable is this?!Let me tell you, how a few days ago DS AND I got in trouble with DH for doing this to each other. DH is 100% against making any type of 'gun' shapes with our hands or even having play guns, with everything going on in todays world.
I'm sure your DH means well, but in my experience, it's a losing battle. I'm reminded of a story a dad told in a similar situation, where his wife banned all gun toys and play from the house. So the boys went and gathered sticks in the woods and turned them into "guns". Might as well have fun with it!
And my verdict remains the same: You're crazy
Hey, I liked them, but they're not the be-all, end-all of burgers. And you have to admit McDonald's fries are better.
YES! Now you have some video footage of your trip you can archive, how perfect!
Actually, the square ice cream makes it look like you got shorted some. What about the ice cream that goes over the side of the cone?!Yep, they're making bank.
Hey, I think you're right! Now I'm angry!
This reminds me of my 'Hungover Santa' that I put outside during Christmas. The only part of the Santa that got rusted is just below his mouth so it looks like he threw up all over himself, hence the name 'Hungover'. I was forced to paint it this year. Gah, DH is such a debbie downer
Yeah, I'm starting to worry about DH here! Where's the sense of humor?Experience is a great teacher!
And you loved it.
But this is my fav
Thanks!
Oh, I hate that. That happened when I showed them Ghostbusters. All they did was make fun of the special effects.
Seriously! Worst stuff ever.
Gotcha. I don't get that, either. I paid $12 to see this movie, you'd better believe I'm going to watch it!
Captain_Oblivious
DIS Dad #257, Galactic Salad Dodger
- Joined
- Nov 10, 2008
See my above comment. I didn't pay $12 to look at my phone! I can do that at home for free.
Get off my lawn!The rumors are true...I have joined the 21st century. With some reluctance.
Crap! Now the secret is out!
Welcome back! And thanks!
Captain_Oblivious
DIS Dad #257, Galactic Salad Dodger
- Joined
- Nov 10, 2008
Chapter 15: And Now For Something Completely Different.
Well, slightly different, anyway. I’m going to jump out of chronological order for a bit here. When I last left you, we hadn’t quite finished off the day after leaving Grand Teton National Park. So I thought this would be a good spot to show you where we ended up, and then post some photos taken over the next 2 days in order to show the place off a bit.
Technically, Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park do not share a border, but for all intents and purposes they run right into each other, connected via the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway through a stretch of Federally protected land. It’s approximately 20 miles between the two parks, and it’s a fairly easy drive along Jackson Lake before you finally arrive at the South Entrance.
I have to admit, I was pretty thrilled to be here. Not only because Yellowstone was one of my favorite parks from my youth, but I was excited about our hotel choice as well. And not just because it wasn’t a Super 8.
We still had to drive another 57 miles. Yellowstone is a massive park, the 8th-largest in the U.S. (and 2nd-largest in the continental U.S.), covering almost 3,500 square miles. So in order to explore it properly, you need to plan to spend at least a couple of days. And since so many of the main attractions require a good-sized drive to reach them, it’s even better if you can stay somewhere inside of the park in order to minimize travel time.
If you’re going to travel to Yellowstone, it requires you to perform at the Disney Parks Level of Trip Planning. The primary places to stay outside Yellowstone are West Yellowstone, Montana (31 miles from the geysers), and Gardiner, Montana (57 miles from the geysers). You can also use Jackson, Wyoming as a base of operations to visit both the Tetons and Yellowstone, but it’s 114 miles to the geysers one-way. And if you’re visiting in the summer, that’s high tourist season so all of the hotels will jack up their rates somewhere between taking out a second mortgage and turning over your first-born child.
There are several places to stay inside the park. Most of them provide generic lodging with bare-bones amenities, with the primary benefit being location. Some of the lodges offer nicer rooms and more modern amenities, but of course you’ll pay a premium for that. Given that most visitors want to see the geyser basin (Old Faithful being the most famous), there are three separate hotels located here: the Old Faithful Snow Lodge, the Old Faithful Lodge & Cabins, and the granddaddy of them all, the Old Faithful Inn.
Built over the course of one winter (!) from 1903 to 1904, the Old Faithful Inn is the oldest and perhaps the most famous National Park lodge in the country. If you want to stay here, you need to make a reservation AT LEAST one full calendar year in advance. With that in mind, I’d actually reserved a room here in May 2014, before we’d even left for our Grand Canyon trip that summer.
If you can manage to snag a reservation, you have a few choices. Some of the rooms were “modernized” and have luxurious amenities, such as a private bathroom in your room. We booked a room in the historic lodge. On the plus side, this meant we got to stay in the oldest part of the hotel, built at the turn of the century. It’s actually one of the best deals in the area—for a little over $100 a night you get to stay within a stone’s throw of the geyser basin. Even better, there’s no restriction on the number of people in a room. They happily allowed me to book all 6 of us in one room, even offering a crib for the baby.
On the downside, the bathrooms are shared. Showers and toilets are located in a central room down the hall. So it’s like living in a college dorm.
Well, somehow Julie and I both managed to survive living in a college dorm for four years. So for the chance to stay in the historic lodge in such a good location at such a great rate, we were perfectly happy to share a bathroom with strangers.
The Old Faithful Inn was the primary inspiration for Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. Disney drew from other National Park lodges, of course, but it was very easy to see where many of the ideas came from as we toured this building. As I mentioned earlier, these photos are not in chronological order. If that’s going to be a problem for you, please schedule an appointment with my assistant and I will give you a full refund on this Trip Report.
Here’s the main entrance. Look familiar?
View from the parking lot:
The building is made entirely from lodgepole pines. You don’t see craftsmanship like this anymore.
I’m sure most of you have experienced a sense of awe upon entering some memorable buildings in your lifetime. I’ve even experienced it at Disney resorts: the Wilderness Lodge, Animal Kingdom Lodge, and Aulani all made me stop in my tracks when I first entered, just to soak in the sights in quiet amazement. Certain buildings force you to admire the skill and vision it took to make such a grand project a reality. I felt that exact same sensation when I entered the Old Faithful Inn. It’s a place that quite literally made my jaw drop.
The lobby:
See the writing desks tucked away to the side on the second floor? You’ll find the same thing in alcoves on the second floor of the Wilderness Lodge.
Live piano music every evening:
There’s also a balcony to afford guests a view of Old Faithful when it erupts.
Side stairway:
You can see what I meant when I said that everything was made from lodgepole pines. It gives the building such amazing and distinctive character.
This is a first-floor hallway leading to some of the rooms. I thought it looked like something out of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
And this was our hallway.
Finally, here was our room.
Very tired baby:
Although we didn’t have a private bathroom, we did have a sink. So we could still do a lot in the room without needing to go down the hall. The shared bathroom really wasn’t an issue at all.
You’ll be seeing more of this building later, but it was unique and distinctive enough that I wanted to spend a little time highlighting it. We all had a blast exploring the building. It felt like there were little hidden alcoves all over the place, giving the same sensation we love about Disney: that feeling of adventure, that something else was just around the corner, ready to be discovered.
Coming Up Next: As much of those 3,500 square miles of Yellowstone as we can squeeze in.
Well, slightly different, anyway. I’m going to jump out of chronological order for a bit here. When I last left you, we hadn’t quite finished off the day after leaving Grand Teton National Park. So I thought this would be a good spot to show you where we ended up, and then post some photos taken over the next 2 days in order to show the place off a bit.
Technically, Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park do not share a border, but for all intents and purposes they run right into each other, connected via the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway through a stretch of Federally protected land. It’s approximately 20 miles between the two parks, and it’s a fairly easy drive along Jackson Lake before you finally arrive at the South Entrance.
I have to admit, I was pretty thrilled to be here. Not only because Yellowstone was one of my favorite parks from my youth, but I was excited about our hotel choice as well. And not just because it wasn’t a Super 8.
We still had to drive another 57 miles. Yellowstone is a massive park, the 8th-largest in the U.S. (and 2nd-largest in the continental U.S.), covering almost 3,500 square miles. So in order to explore it properly, you need to plan to spend at least a couple of days. And since so many of the main attractions require a good-sized drive to reach them, it’s even better if you can stay somewhere inside of the park in order to minimize travel time.
If you’re going to travel to Yellowstone, it requires you to perform at the Disney Parks Level of Trip Planning. The primary places to stay outside Yellowstone are West Yellowstone, Montana (31 miles from the geysers), and Gardiner, Montana (57 miles from the geysers). You can also use Jackson, Wyoming as a base of operations to visit both the Tetons and Yellowstone, but it’s 114 miles to the geysers one-way. And if you’re visiting in the summer, that’s high tourist season so all of the hotels will jack up their rates somewhere between taking out a second mortgage and turning over your first-born child.
There are several places to stay inside the park. Most of them provide generic lodging with bare-bones amenities, with the primary benefit being location. Some of the lodges offer nicer rooms and more modern amenities, but of course you’ll pay a premium for that. Given that most visitors want to see the geyser basin (Old Faithful being the most famous), there are three separate hotels located here: the Old Faithful Snow Lodge, the Old Faithful Lodge & Cabins, and the granddaddy of them all, the Old Faithful Inn.
Built over the course of one winter (!) from 1903 to 1904, the Old Faithful Inn is the oldest and perhaps the most famous National Park lodge in the country. If you want to stay here, you need to make a reservation AT LEAST one full calendar year in advance. With that in mind, I’d actually reserved a room here in May 2014, before we’d even left for our Grand Canyon trip that summer.
If you can manage to snag a reservation, you have a few choices. Some of the rooms were “modernized” and have luxurious amenities, such as a private bathroom in your room. We booked a room in the historic lodge. On the plus side, this meant we got to stay in the oldest part of the hotel, built at the turn of the century. It’s actually one of the best deals in the area—for a little over $100 a night you get to stay within a stone’s throw of the geyser basin. Even better, there’s no restriction on the number of people in a room. They happily allowed me to book all 6 of us in one room, even offering a crib for the baby.
On the downside, the bathrooms are shared. Showers and toilets are located in a central room down the hall. So it’s like living in a college dorm.
Well, somehow Julie and I both managed to survive living in a college dorm for four years. So for the chance to stay in the historic lodge in such a good location at such a great rate, we were perfectly happy to share a bathroom with strangers.
The Old Faithful Inn was the primary inspiration for Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. Disney drew from other National Park lodges, of course, but it was very easy to see where many of the ideas came from as we toured this building. As I mentioned earlier, these photos are not in chronological order. If that’s going to be a problem for you, please schedule an appointment with my assistant and I will give you a full refund on this Trip Report.
Here’s the main entrance. Look familiar?
View from the parking lot:
The building is made entirely from lodgepole pines. You don’t see craftsmanship like this anymore.
I’m sure most of you have experienced a sense of awe upon entering some memorable buildings in your lifetime. I’ve even experienced it at Disney resorts: the Wilderness Lodge, Animal Kingdom Lodge, and Aulani all made me stop in my tracks when I first entered, just to soak in the sights in quiet amazement. Certain buildings force you to admire the skill and vision it took to make such a grand project a reality. I felt that exact same sensation when I entered the Old Faithful Inn. It’s a place that quite literally made my jaw drop.
The lobby:
See the writing desks tucked away to the side on the second floor? You’ll find the same thing in alcoves on the second floor of the Wilderness Lodge.
Live piano music every evening:
There’s also a balcony to afford guests a view of Old Faithful when it erupts.
Side stairway:
You can see what I meant when I said that everything was made from lodgepole pines. It gives the building such amazing and distinctive character.
This is a first-floor hallway leading to some of the rooms. I thought it looked like something out of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
And this was our hallway.
Finally, here was our room.
Very tired baby:
Although we didn’t have a private bathroom, we did have a sink. So we could still do a lot in the room without needing to go down the hall. The shared bathroom really wasn’t an issue at all.
You’ll be seeing more of this building later, but it was unique and distinctive enough that I wanted to spend a little time highlighting it. We all had a blast exploring the building. It felt like there were little hidden alcoves all over the place, giving the same sensation we love about Disney: that feeling of adventure, that something else was just around the corner, ready to be discovered.
Coming Up Next: As much of those 3,500 square miles of Yellowstone as we can squeeze in.
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wasnotafan
All that fresh air over the years has done me good
- Joined
- Jul 12, 2010
Nice. I almost made it there on my trip to British Columbia back in '86 (19, not 18) but that year much of the West was on fire and the park was closed.
Cinderella's Fella
DIS Dad #215 Maryland, The Land Of Merry!
- Joined
- Aug 14, 2008
Thank you Mark. Looks wonderful. Jodi and I will stay there the end of May. 
pkondz
Brace yourself for immediate disintegration
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2007
Oh, I hate that. That happened when I showed them Ghostbusters. All they did was make fun of the special effects.
That's a classic you're dissing!!"Teton".... <snicker>
Mine too. Well, then again, I doubt I went to as many as you did.
Are the Badlands/Mt. Rushmore part of a Natl Park?
Must be... Hang on... off to Google.
Okay, they are. So... three, I think.
It surprised me to find that Death Valley (easily, too!) was larger.
Um... You don't consider Alaska continental? Even though it's on the same continent?
Or did you mean 2nd largest in the contiguous 48?
Ugh. More planning? I'm too tired!
Wait. I'm not going (at least not for a year or two.)
<snicker>
Nope!
I'm betting your DD was getting a little nervous right around then.
Meh. They all sound Old.
Geez. That is good planning on your part!
And... good to know.
Niiice.
Niiiiiiiice.
Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiice.
And there it is! I knew there had to be a catch!!
Looking at the photos, I can certainly see that!
Of course. I had to click the link.
Nope.
Not often anyway. There are still a few (read few) outfits around that do it.
For a price.
To all three. Same reaction.The lobby:
Holy Crap!!! That's jaw-dropping, dude!! No kidding!!!
I don't know where to not look!
Cool!
Wow. Sweet!
Side stairway:
Look at that railing!!! (And no... not the obviously-installed-later-for-safety one)
Except... better.Love it.
Very tired baby:
Aww... poor tuckered tyke.How many rooms share a bathroom?
This place just... just.... I have no words.
Awesome.
afwdwfan
DIS Dad #460
- Joined
- Apr 23, 2010
Although that in and of itself is reason enough for excitement.
Well, yeah!
What? Hold up. Built during a winter??? In Montana??? Even more impressive.
What? I see no resemblance whatsoever.
I'm sure the pictures don't do it justice... yet they still convey a sense of wonder.
I completely expected this to be you crashed out in that picture.
Awesome! It is a beautiful place. I need to start talking to DW about maybe going there sometime. I'd love a nice summer road trip out west. I'm sure that you and your family took full advantage of exploring what was "just around the corner."
glennbo123
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- May 10, 2008
Wowwww! That's all I can say about the Old Faithful Inn. Really, really cool. In addition to the breathtaking lobby, the branches that they used for supports and staircase railings look amazing.
Oh, I had a couple of chapters to catch up on...now I will never forget what "Grand Tetons" mean. And I'll have to refrain myself from using it out of context. Thanks for that.
Oh, I had a couple of chapters to catch up on...now I will never forget what "Grand Tetons" mean. And I'll have to refrain myself from using it out of context. Thanks for that.
mickeystoontown
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2006
Wow! Wow! Wow! The resort is absolutely gorgeous and I, too, would have stood there slack jawed at the sight of it. When you said shared bathrooms, the first thought that I has was a scene from European Vacation. 
GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes
If it’s still here tomorrow… I may ignore it again
- Joined
- Jan 20, 2007
Vivian Smith-Smyth Smith Approves.
(and so does the Colonel… so long as it doesn’t just get silly).
Oh my Holly Lord!
You’re crossing the streams!!!!
You left me?
So you abandoned me, and… you crossed the streams?!?!?!
And now your just gonn’a rub salt into the wounds?
Oh wait… a slide show!
Ooooooooo, purrty pictures…
Ok, never mind; continue on.
(Yes, I’m easily bribed)
Well lookie there…
You even used “intents and purposes” correctly.
You is smarrrrt.
(and you said Teton again… hee hee)
Think you could find someone that wouldn’t be?
But that did play a very large part in that excitement, I’d be willing to wager.
Well, yeah, cause there’s big, and then there’s Alaska.
2.8 Rhode Islands (or 1.4 Delawares)
Now this I believe (and I’ll take as both a tip and a warning).
More it has in common with Disney.
Makes sense.
It’s a bit like being in the resort loop
And… I’m sensing a bit of a pattern here
We don’t need no stinkin’ permits…
or authorizations…
or impact studies…
or referendums…
Another commonality with aspects of Disney (and another well placed warning).
Ok, that’s where things have strayed just a smidgen off the Maniacal Mouse’s business model.
And now we’ve completely shattered standard business practices in general.
Ehhh… that’s doable.
And we all know how that turned out.
Total protonic reversal…
Well, I was a bit fuzzy on the whole good/bad thing at first, but Egon explained it pretty succinctly.
Disney’s lawyers are writing up the cease and desist paperwork as we (I mean: you) speak.Here’s the main entrance. Look familiar?
Certainly not in relation to things that might be within reach of my salary constraints.
One or two moments do seem to come to mind…
Yes, yes they do.
And yes, I do believe this one qualifies.
Because our auditory senses were on the verge of becoming just the littlest bit jealous.
The rental premiums on a bit of real estate up there alone could be sold on the scalpers market for more that the price of a night’s stay.
Now that right there could be said to be jaw dropping.Side stairway:
And then you get geysers too!
(well not in this update, but soon).
Yeah, I won’t be referring to this inn as a Super 8.Finally, here was our room.
Disney Marketing thanks you and says that your royalty check is in the mail.
I’m sure you’ve seen every last inch of Delaware, so how hard could this be?
Captain_Oblivious
DIS Dad #257, Galactic Salad Dodger
- Joined
- Nov 10, 2008
Well, that's a bummer. I hope you get the chance to go back.
Thank you Mark. Looks wonderful. Jodi and I will stay there the end of May.
Excellent! I hope you love it as much as I did.
Captain_Oblivious
DIS Dad #257, Galactic Salad Dodger
- Joined
- Nov 10, 2008
Seriously! These kids don't appreciate true art.
Heh. Doesn't get old, does it?
Yep. We're looking to hit those areas this summer.
I didn't think of that one, either.
Oops. Yeah, that's what I meant. "Continental US" is often used as a figure of speech meaning the lower 48 states. But yeah, it's not a correct phrase.
Great! Now's the time to start planning!
Nope. Doesn't get old.
Oh, I've put her on the trade block many times. She does the same to me, so it all works out.
Meh. They all sound Old.
You're not wrong!
It was similar to finding lodging at the Grand Canyon. Find some open dates, reserve them, and then plan the rest of the trip around those dates.
Yeah, it couldn't all be peaches and cream. But I would totally do it again.
Disney certainly wasn't subtle about it!
Of course. I had to click the link.
Usually I link to her as the "Budget Committee." Sometimes you have to change things up.
If only I was independently wealthy. This is what my dream house would look like.
You have excellent taste!
I know, right?? I couldn't get enough of this place!
That one floored me. I never would have been creative enough to use that for a railing.
Agreed.
He woke back up when we tried to put him down in the crib. I don't think our next-door-neighbors were happy with us then. We weren't happy, either.
Oh, maybe 12 - 14? I didn't count the rooms in the hallway. We rarely saw more than one other person in the bathroom at any time, though. There were 3 shower stalls, 3 toilet stalls (don't get them confused), and two urinals. Plenty for everyone.
Yeah, I felt the same way. It was a thrill to be there. I'm so glad we got the chance to do it.
It's so cool! And so convenient. You could walk outside and be in the geyser basin anytime.
Captain_Oblivious
DIS Dad #257, Galactic Salad Dodger
- Joined
- Nov 10, 2008
True. We couldn't get out of the Super 8 fast enough.
There's a lot more to see besides the geysers.
Wyoming, actually. But yeah, that winter is no joke. Just amazing work.
What? I see no resemblance whatsoever.
Disney prefers it that way, I'm sure.
It's hard to fit a lobby that size into one photo. I was hoping it would at least give a little idea of what we saw.
I wasn't far behind. Then the baby woke up and fussed for an hour when we tried to get him into the crib.
Yellowstone is a pretty unforgettable place. Combine that with Grand Teton (snicker) and it's totally worth the trip.
They really left no parts of the trees unused. I'm sure I would have thrown those pieces out. I'm just not that creative.
It doesn't get old!
Wow! Wow! Wow! The resort is absolutely gorgeous and I, too, would have stood there slack jawed at the sight of it. When you said shared bathrooms, the first thought that I has was a scene from European Vacation.
Now why didn't I think of that?
Captain_Oblivious
DIS Dad #257, Galactic Salad Dodger
- Joined
- Nov 10, 2008
That would belong in a different Ministry.
It's our only chance!
Whew. Crisis averted.
Doesn't get old! Just like dam jokes.
Hmm...I'll get back to you.
I can't deny that.
Someday I will see Alaska. Someday...
It really doesn't take much to beat Delaware out.
Just trying to help you guys out, in case you ever want to stay here.
Supply and demand. That's all it is.
Yeah, you could say that. A monorail might be out of place, though.
Picked up on that one, didja?
It's amazing how much you can accomplish without bureaucracy. Or regard for working conditions or the environment.
But worth the effort!
Affordable? What does that mean?
Thank goodness we didn't need separate admission fees.
Totally.
I think you know my opinion on the matter.
I tried to think of the only thing that couldn't hurt me!
Somebody blew their nose all over the place and you wanna keep it?
Um...Julie wrote this part.
Not here, either. Which stinks, because I'd love to build something like this.
Good, because I was gonna get all upset if you disagreed.
Ok, maybe not. But it's better when everybody feels the same way as me.
It classes the place right up.
Ken Burns called our National Parks "America's Best Idea." It's hard to argue with that one.
You will have geysers galore!
Super 8's shouldn't be mentioned in the same sentence.
Don't tell the Budget Committee!Well, I had more than 2 days to explore Delaware.
Captain_Oblivious
DIS Dad #257, Galactic Salad Dodger
- Joined
- Nov 10, 2008
Well guys and gals, the moment is upon us. Julie and I leave for WDW tomorrow! With no kids! They are still very, very happy with us and are completely understanding of the fact that sometimes mommy and daddy need to escape, take a break, and have fun on their own. And we feel very guilty about leaving them behind.
And if you believe any of that, I have some DVC points I'd like to sell you. I'll talk to you guys on Tuesday!
And if you believe any of that, I have some DVC points I'd like to sell you. I'll talk to you guys on Tuesday!
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