Canadian Buffoon's Solo Disney Vacation - Update 07/08! pp99 - Here today gone tomorrow

[pkondz]

I can still play the game? I came early enough to do something? Yay!

Yes. Yes you did!

I say, got up at 3:10 am, 3 minutes in customs, and it's a light on the wall for the pic (for the win?).

Noted. (and we'll see.)

Oh yeah, the pic! The metal thing is for breaking glass in case of fire. It's at your resort.

I was wondering about that.
I was a little surprised that you hadn't guessed what it was.
If Andy was right, you'd be out of a win for sure!

And.... noted.

Yeah, cats dont slpell too good.

They have other qualities.
Like sucking the breath from babies.

I guess I kinda love you.

I guess someone kinda wants bonus points.

 

[KatMark]

"Former DISer" Do you know something that I don't? Did she leave too?
That would explain why their TR hasn't been updated for a while.

Nope...that was just an error on my part. I don't even know her; not sure why I typed "former."

 

[pkondz]

Nope...that was just an error on my part. I don't even know her; not sure why I typed "former."

Ah. Ya had me scared there for a bit!

 

[orangecats2]

What will happen if there is a tie at the end of the TR?

When is this real life update you speak of?

Have to you talked to Nebo recently? I always wonder how he's doing.

 

[Mac Brew]

Hope I am not too late saying this so Thanks for the lesson and thanks for the two points for quoting the former. I have been at work for a little while that’s why I’ve missed a few days
It’s always sad when a holiday comes to an end especially one at the best holiday complexes on the planet. Great trip report well up to your usual standard. For me I like the parks at night they just turn into a different light spectre all together….
Your alarm was set for 07:30 hrs.
Customs was one and a half hours due to all the continental flights that just arrived ten mins before you landed

 

[pkondz]

What will happen if there is a tie at the end of the TR?

There isn't one.
Points have already been tabulated.
(Well, up to this point they have. Still time for others to post.)

When is this real life update you speak of?

As soon as I figure out what's going on!

Have to you talked to Nebo recently? I always wonder how he's doing.

No!
I'm such a bad friend.
I keep meaning to... then forgetting!

UGH!!!!!

 

[pkondz]

Hope I am not too late saying this so Thanks for the lesson and thanks for the two points for quoting the former.

Sure. I didn't put a time limit on it.

I have been at work for a little while that’s why I’ve missed a few days

I always wonder when people disappear for a while.
Or forever!
And there's really no way of knowing.
There's one person in particular that I'm worried about right now.

It’s always sad when a holiday comes to an end especially one at the best holiday complexes on the planet.

True. An unfortunate side affect of vacations.

Great trip report well up to your usual standard.

Thanks, Mac!

For me I like the parks at night they just turn into a different light spectre all together….

Your alarm was set for 07:30 hrs.
Customs was one and a half hours due to all the continental flights that just arrived ten mins before you landed

Noted.

 

[orangecats2]

Points have already been tabulated

Did I win? Have I beat Andy?

 

[pkondz]

Did I win? Have I beat Andy?

I can guarantee that you are in the top 10.

 

[KathyM2]

Phew...trying to get caught up after the weekend with no wi-fi lol....glad it isn't over yet lol

 

[pkondz]

Phew...trying to get caught up after the weekend with no wi-fi lol....glad it isn't over yet lol

Not yet... but soon.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Hello humans!

I think I'm all caught up. Just wanted to say that I loved both your strategy for dealing with IASW (never would have guessed in a million years that you would have gone on that ride) and the photo on Splash Mountain was epic. I'm always worried about the drop on that one so maybe I need to get creative, too. I still think they just need to add the guns from Buzz Lightyear to the boats in IASW. It would completely transform the ride.

Love the photos of WS at night. Some gorgeous shots there.

As far as my guesses go:
Alarm goes off at 4:30 a.m.
Customs...5 minutes.
The photo: a fire extinguisher case or emergency device hanging on a plaster/concrete wall.

 

[pkondz]

Hello humans!

Hey! What about me!?!?

I think I'm all caught up. Just wanted to say that I loved both your strategy for dealing with IASW (never would have guessed in a million years that you would have gone on that ride)

I never would've guessed that either.... until I went ahead and did it.

and the photo on Splash Mountain was epic.

Thanks!

I'm always worried about the drop on that one so maybe I need to get creative, too.

I'm telling ya.
I was so busy making sure I was ready for my close up Mr. Demille,
that I never even thought about the drop.

I still think they just need to add the guns from Buzz Lightyear to the boats in IASW.

I would prefer something with a little oompf behind them.
Maybe Nerf? Or something like that?

Love the photos of WS at night. Some gorgeous shots there.

Thanks!

Alarm goes off at 4:30 a.m.
Customs...5 minutes.
The photo: a fire extinguisher case or emergency device hanging on a plaster/concrete wall.

Noted.

 

[pkondz]

Real world update... take two


A few of you
(and you know who you are)
have been asking me when my next trip is going to be.
I can only assume you want to know
so that you can make plans to avoid being anywhere near me.
I have semi-smart readers.
(If you were really smart, you wouldn't be reading this drivel, right?)
(Hmmm... but then again... how would you know to avoid me?
Maybe you're smart after all...)


Some of you
(and you probably don't know who you are)
might recall that I've mentioned a couple of upcoming trips since Disney.


Some of you
(and I don't know who you are)
already know that I've gone to Toronto
(and am planning a mini TR on it...
after some gentle requests and mild arm bending.)


Some of you
(really... probably none of you)
may recall that Ruby and I are planning a Vegas vacation in the early fall.


So details of this Vegas vacation.
Ruby got word that she would be attending a course in Vegas,
from September 13th to 18th.
Her job would be picking up the tab for her flight, hotel and meals...
So why shouldn't I tag along?
All I have to come up with is the price of a plane ticket.
And they don't get any plane-er than a ticket to Vegas, baby!

Up until now, I didn't know any more than that.
I knew the dates.
But I didn't know what hotel we'd be staying at.
I didn't know what flights we would be taking.
I didn't know if we'd rent a car.
Or have time to take in some shows.
Or maybe do some gambling...


Well now I know!

Ruby got word a few days ago that due to budget constraints...
all international travel has been suspended.

Bye, bye Vegas!


So that's off the table.


A couple of days ago, Ruby's chatting with me and says.
"I'd really like to get away. Just for a few days."

Okay, where would you like to go?
"How about Banff? I liked it there."

So I said I'd crunch some quick numbers and get back to her.
Did she want to go for a long time? A weekend? What?
"I'd like to take three days off. Thursday and Friday to travel. Monday back home to rest."

Okay. I can work with that.


So I did some numbers crunching and came up with some suggestions.
Drive to Banff (14.5 hours)
Drive to Edmonton (14 hours)
Drive to Minneapolis (7 hours)
Drive to Deadwood (11 hours)
or fly pretty much anywhere within Canada and continental USA.

I have a few hundred bucks with Westjet plus a $99 companion ticket.
So we can use that.

Ruby decided that she didn't really want to fly anywhere.
But she really wants to see Deadwood.


Okay. Sounds like a plan.
Well, a start of a plan anyway.

I did a bit of snooping around and....
Who knew Deadwood hotels would be that expensive???
Who do they think they are? Disney?

There's a Comfort Inn at $250/night.
Everything else that's still available is $300 - $400+!

So I booked us into a nice room at the Country Inn and Suites in Rapid City.
Rapid City is about 45 minutes away from Deadwood.
But it's closer to Mt. Rushmore.
I've been once... when I was about 8? 10? years old.
Ruby's never been.

Lots of other stuff to see and do in the area.
There's Deadwood itself, of course.
Needles highway.
The aforementioned Mt. Rushmore.
Badlands Nat'l Park.
Black Hills Nat'l Forest.
And a whole slew of other touristy type stuff.
(Reptile Gardens! Crystal Caves! Oh my!)

So that's what the next trip is going to be!
So for those of you asking when the next trip is...

Now you know!



Oh.
Almost forgot.
I'll still have some time off... and those airplane tickets.

So it looks like I'm probably going to take Kay to Disneyworld in August, too.

ETA
Not looking so good for Disney after all.
Tickets are gone for a lot of flights already. Still looking, tho.

Link to next post​

 

[KatMark]

Boo for no Vegas (I went last August for the first time in almost ten years and we had a blast).

Yay for having some firm plans. It sounds like a nice trip (I always wanted to see Mt. Rushmore).

Kay to Disneyworld in August 2015? August 2016? More specific please. Obviously, I haven't paid as close attention to the "chatter" in between updates as I should (I have an excuse...I'm going to be leaving on vacation in three days and trying to pack up my house to move).

 

[KathyM2]

Wahooo road trip AND Disney in August...what could be better??? Sounds fantastic!

 

[pkondz]

Boo for no Vegas (I went last August for the first time in almost ten years and we had a blast).

Well, we've both been a couple of times, so we weren't totally broken up about it.

Yay for having some firm plans. It sounds like a nice trip (I always wanted to see Mt. Rushmore).

Although the plans aren't too firm yet.
We've got the dates and the hotel, but that's it.

Kay to Disneyworld in August 2015? August 2016? More specific please. Obviously, I haven't paid as close attention to the "chatter" in between updates as I should (I have an excuse...I'm going to be leaving on vacation in three days and trying to pack up my house to move).

You get a pass. So close!
Yes. August of this year.
If it happens, which it looks like it will,
it'll be interesting to see what ADRs we can get this close to the date.

Wahooo road trip AND Disney in August...what could be better??? Sounds fantastic!

A massive lottery win?
Immortality?

Those might be better.
But it would be close.

 

[cinderkelly]

Awesome you get to go back to DW in August!!
I loved Rapid City, last time I was there a million years ago. Ok it was more like 25 years ago, interesting fact.. My ex husbands family ( uncle) used to own Crystal Caves at one point! My ex used to work there and give tours when he was younger. Lots and lots of cool stuff to do there.

 

[pkondz]

Awesome you get to go back to DW in August!!

(I think... nothing booked yet)

I loved Rapid City, last time I was there a million years ago.

Cool! That was when the Dinosaur Park had real dinosaurs!

Ok it was more like 25 years ago, interesting fact.. My ex husbands family ( uncle) used to own Crystal Caves at one point!

No way! Small.... er.... What a tiny planet!

My ex used to work there and give tours when he was younger. Lots and lots of cool stuff to do there.

I hope to get a chance to check it out now for sure!
But it'll be up to Ruby.

 

[orangecats2]

So when is Deadwood? What is there to see? Haven't really heard about it. Was there a show about it?

WDW again already??? And I haven't been since 2012?