“IF THIS IS A DREAM, I DON’T WANT TO WAKE UP!” – POP! Goes The Solo Trip **THE END**

[DisneyKid4Life]

Great choice with Orange!!! Also can't wait for all your pics with dudes around the world.
Don't disappoint us

Vote taken, and BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!! Yeah, no.

I am so amazed at the number of people who don't get fps, its crazy!

Love the Soarin pre video! I just love that guy and witty Disney pre videos!

And the seat belt click

Ahhhh the strawberry shortcake! SOOOOOOO good!

It's mind blowing and kinda sad, but good for the rest of us so it's hard to complain.

This one is my absolute fav Jess!!! I just love Patrick Warburton and have for years. The first time I saw that video, I totally geeked out, and I've been known to shush people when it plays, lol.

Yay, another for the seatbelt click!!!!

And YAY another for the Strawberry Shortcake!!!

Great update!

Thank you so much!!

Alright, I vote orange! I had chosen orange for myself but changed it at the last minute so DH and I would have red and green for Christmas! (Also Brenda's got a point with the matching t-shirt idea.)
I saw some video of talking Mickey!! He looks so cool!

Whenever I see a long standby line at Soarin, I grab a Fastpass and smile. No matter how often Stacey preaches the benefits, some will still standby and that's ok by me! Hahaha let the FP+ be Area 51, we on the Dis have the inside info!
Score for b1!
I really love Living with the Land. I just enjoy the calm boat ride! I did the Behind the Seeds tour and loved it too.
SS is my favourite cs restaurant but hubby doesn't share my love. Their strawberry shortcake keeps me coming back!

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

See now I like that thought of red and green for Christmas Wendy. OK, Orange vote taken.
AND OMG, how seriously cool is that??!! I think I might die!! Seriously.

It does make me laugh. I guess because through most of the FP lines you don't really see the Stand-By. But here, you walk by the whole thing and it's MASSIVE!!! I would not wait in that line.
Best seat in the house!
That's what I realy enjoy. It's just SOOOOOO peaceful.
He really doesn't love Seasons??!! OMG. I just love it. And that Shortcake.

i vote orange! thats what i picked for mine
im still playing around with the fastpass+. im intrigued to see how it works.

oh man, those standy-by lines...im not sure whats scarier, the amount of people who dont use the fast passes or the amount of people who dont stay on property to take advantage of the fast passes.

i really love Living with the Land.

Yay for B1! Patrick cracks me up. whenever i see him, i think of Kronk from The Emperor's New Groove (this movie is one of my favorites. highly underrated).

the ending of Journey into Imagination is my favorite. for whatever reason i had never been on it before and rode it for the first time last october on my honeymoon. that "BLAST" will definetly wake you up

Haha, vote taken.
Part of me really wants to like FP+, but it's so hard to plan to that level for me. I know it's changeable, but still. I'm a rope dropper, so regular FP worked so well for me that I just have to get used the the changes I guess.

It's all pretty scary. Just wait until FP+ is available to EVERYONE!!

Aww me too.

Yay indeed. I've been a Patrick fan for it seems ever.

Haha, that is true Danielle.

My dad picked orange for his because he thought it was a more summery color...forgetting that we were going in November. Insert the confused smiley here (I'm on my phone). I still vote orange though. It's more vibrant!

Forever totally okay with people not knowing what Fastpass is. They're the ones who will end up with FP+ for Swiss Family Treehouse hehehe

Well at least your dad was "trying" to pick a color that meant something, lol. Vote has been taken Courtney. It is definitely more vibrant.

Ha, yeah me too. Bahahahaha, can you imagine??????!!!!!!!! OMG, that would be steller. I would takes pictures of that ALL DAY!!!

 

[leopardmickeyears]

"I’ve been known to yell at the TV whenever Stacey explains Fastpass, shouting,

“STACEY!! STOP TELLING PEOPLE ABOUT FASTPASS!!!!…"

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHA YES! I feel the same, if the stupid people don't know how to Do Disney right, then they don't deserve to be told.

 

[DisneyKid4Life]

"I’ve been known to yell at the TV whenever Stacey explains Fastpass, shouting,

“STACEY!! STOP TELLING PEOPLE ABOUT FASTPASS!!!!…"

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHA YES! I feel the same, if the stupid people don't know how to Do Disney right, then they don't deserve to be told.

I love the way you think Meg!! No more handouts to people who can't do at least a little research! I get annoyed with Stacey for that, but then I immediately apologize for shouting and beg her forgiveness.

 

[GinnerD]

Hi Rob. Great Updates!

Furry characters with umbrellas!! Too Cute. I absolutely love the Peoplemover too. So relaxing and lets you see Tomorrowland from a different perspective. The TTA and COP are on my must do list for December.

Hooray for your Birthday trip plans. I had no idea that SW did such cool things for the holidays. i am thinking you will really enjoy the ice show!!

As for your MB (if you haven't decided yet) I am casting my vote for Orange. Seems to me it would fit your personality. Me, I am still not sure about the MB and this FP+ . From what I have been reading though, it is not going to be possible to pull paper FPs for much longer. I suppose I will have to choose a MB color too.

I am enjoying your TR and I have read at least two of Brenda's (Emmysmommy) but I am still a lurker on hers. Will be sad to see this one end, but will look forward to the report of the "big birthday trip".

 

[DisneyKid4Life]

Hi Rob. Great Updates!

Furry characters with umbrellas!! Too Cute. I absolutely love the Peoplemover too. So relaxing and lets you see Tomorrowland from a different perspective. The TTA and COP are on my must do list for December.

Hooray for your Birthday trip plans. I had no idea that SW did such cool things for the holidays. i am thinking you will really enjoy the ice show!!

As for your MB (if you haven't decided yet) I am casting my vote for Orange. Seems to me it would fit your personality. Me, I am still not sure about the MB and this FP+ . From what I have been reading though, it is not going to be possible to pull paper FPs for much longer. I suppose I will have to choose a MB color too.

I am enjoying your TR and I have read at least two of Brenda's (Emmysmommy) but I am still a lurker on hers. Will be sad to see this one end, but will look forward to the report of the "big birthday trip".

Thank you so much Ginny!!

OMG, I just loved the characters with their umbrellas. So cute. The best thing about loving PeopleMover and the CoP is that there's rarely any line. All the better for the rest of us who know how great they are!!

Thank you! I had no idea either. I'm not sure how long they've been doing the major Christmas stuff, but it just seemed like a can't miss to me. Hahaha, strangely I think I may like it as well.

I haven't and your vote is taken. The whole FP+ thing is really confusing, but at least I'm not alone. On Sunday, the Key to the World cards begin to go away apparently, so I would guess regular fastpass along with it. It's so hard to plan when you really have no idea what the landscape will be a month from now. Prepare for the worst and hope for the best I guess.

Aww thank you SO MUCH!! That means a lot. I can't wait to meet Brenda in December. Hopefully the next one will be bigger and better than ever!!!

 

[TheMaxRebo]

BTW - if there is rain for you upcoming Wishes cruise with Brenda I fully expect to see a "cute DISers with umbrella's" pic

 

[jash08]

I am going to go with blue just because I like blue more than orange (mainly because I can't wear orange because it looks horrible).

I am fond of Living with the Land too. I am in awe of the nine pound lemons.

Ok, so I have a confession to make. Figment is my favorite Disney character EVER. My father even made up a song and would sing to me every night as a child with my Figment plushy. I would say only when I was a child, but he held onto that until 17 or so. I am an only child and he liked that time together. There was a Dumbo song too, but I digress. I LOVED the original Figment ride. This one is........meh. I ride it several times every trip so I can see figment and always feel a little let down when I leave. The original image works that was upstairs was a small piece of heaven. Now it feels like an afterthought. My favorite part of the ride is Figment's house to the end. I feel like I should be listening to Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon there.

Also, is it just me or can anyone else go outside and "catch" the water balls for hours? As a child I would play in that for at least an hour and I can get sucked in for a good 10 minutes now!

 

[cheekypoppins]

hey Rob i just updated my ptr n ure mentioned in it

 

[DisneyKid4Life]

BTW - if there is rain for you upcoming Wishes cruise with Brenda I fully expect to see a "cute DISers with umbrella's" pic

Bahaha, well of course that is pretty much a given. Of course the umbrellas will be of the Disney Park variety and not the boring clear ones they force the characters to carry. But also... It better not rain!!!!

I am going to go with blue just because I like blue more than orange (mainly because I can't wear orange because it looks horrible).

I am fond of Living with the Land too. I am in awe of the nine pound lemons.

Ok, so I have a confession to make. Figment is my favorite Disney character EVER. My father even made up a song and would sing to me every night as a child with my Figment plushy. I would say only when I was a child, but he held onto that until 17 or so. I am an only child and he liked that time together. There was a Dumbo song too, but I digress. I LOVED the original Figment ride. This one is........meh. I ride it several times every trip so I can see figment and always feel a little let down when I leave. The original image works that was upstairs was a small piece of heaven. Now it feels like an afterthought. My favorite part of the ride is Figment's house to the end. I feel like I should be listening to Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon there.

Also, is it just me or can anyone else go outside and "catch" the water balls for hours? As a child I would play in that for at least an hour and I can get sucked in for a good 10 minutes now!

Haha, perfect logic there I think. Vote is taken.

It's so great. So much to see and *gasp* learn on that little boat ride.

Aww that's so sweet that you have such a connection to Figment. I think Figment is great and the Imagination Pavilion is wonderful too. The ride on the other hand, not so much. That whole pavilion, as I understand it, is going be be getting a complete overhaul. The building itself it still one of the coolest things around. Hmm, now if they did play Dark Side of the Moon, I may be inclined to ride it more often.

Do you mean right in front of where Captain EO is playing? Then OMG... YES!!! I often spend a great deal of time there.

hey Rob i just updated my ptr n ure mentioned in it

Haha, totally saw that! But I guess this is old news now, lol

 

[jash08]

Those would be the fountains. Man they are hypnotizing. Nothing better than getting a Mickey ice cream from the snack cart and then going back to the fountain.

 

[DisneyKid4Life]

Those would be the fountains. Man they are hypnotizing. Nothing better than getting a Mickey ice cream from the snack cart and then going back to the fountain.

They really are!! I remember the first time seeing them and I just couldn't pull myself away.

 

[DisneyKid4Life]

SPHERES, FLOWERS, AND GARDENS… AND A CM IN EVERY PORT!
Day 6 – May 2, 2013 Part 3



Just a really quick December update before the next TR update.

Thank you to all who voted on the Magic Band colour. By a vote of 8-4, it looks like orange is the winner. Blue came out strong building a 3-0 lead, but then orange flooded in with 8 straight. Rest assured, I like both which is why I decided to leave it up to your votes. I just couldn't make up my mind otherwise so THANK YOU ALL!!! I wouldn't have been disappointed with either. Orange definitely works since it's a Halloween colour, so what could be better for Christmas? Or Nightmare Before Christmas!!! Works for me!

One final note. I completed my online check in at POP this week with my 2 room requests being 50's and Lake View. Well see how that goes.
Also, I finally outlined my plans for park days AND selected FP+ times for all days. The MDE website is clunky as hell, but I was finally able to it, though it does take a long time. I will share all the details in a future update hopefully later this week (Disers galore) as there may be some minor tweaking, but I actually think I finally have a plan.

Now back in time to Epcot on May 2, 2013.


***********************************************


After Soarin', I exited The Land and headed towards the World Showcase.

Future World is great, but World Showcase is the real star of Epcot in my opinion, despite this awesome Water-Rise.

Flower and Garden just adds so much to the walk that Epcot not in Flower and Garden season seems a little naked by comparison.

The Showcase truly is just one big photo-op and can really fill up a memory card quickly.

As I always do, I started in Canada, because for some reason, I just can’t go left in World Showcase.

Through therapy, meditation, and prayer, I hope to one day overcome this and actually “Go Left” and start my journey in Mexico.

Until then, I will just have to deal with the beauty of my homeland.

I followed up a quick stopover in Canada by visiting Jolly ‘ol England.

The topiaries throughout the Showcase are all astonishing and stunning,

But the Peter Pan topiary has to be the best one ever!

It’s so hard to believe that this is all really just lawn.

It was upon entering into England that I decided to reprise something I had done a couple of years prior.

The World Showcase is home to many amazing adventures for young and old and everyone in between.

”Agent P's World Showcase Adventure”, ”Kidcot Fun Stops”, and the ever popular, “Drinking Around the World”,

Are certainly the most popular and well known.

They certainly all have their appeal, especially “Drinking Around the World”, which I will do one day.

But I like to do my own thing... and I'm poor... so I decided to start my own Showcase adventure I like to call…


“CM’s AROUND THE WORLD ™”


Where the goal is to get a photo with one or more Cast Members from each country of the World Showcase.

One of the most awesome things about The World Showcase is that the CM’s are actually from those countries.

This adventure still provides a goal in each country, but unlike Drinking Around The World, this one’s totally free.

Also unlike Drinking Around The World, you don’t get drunk… but nothing’s perfect.

It also provides the perfect excuse to get a photo with some attractive ladies from all over the world…

… Or I guess attractive men if that happens to be your preference.

Certainly it is VERY likely that this is not a new thing and has been done countless times before by many people.

But, since I have never heard of it personally… I’m taking full credit for inventing it.

I fully expect some of you to take up the challenge on your next visit to the World Showcase.
You can PM me to find out where to send the royalty cheques.

I knew going in that this was going to be a real challenge since I would not only have to find a CM to be in the photo,

But since I was solo, I would also have to find someone to actually take the photo.

Sure, you could just ask a CM to pose for a photo you take yourself and be on your merry way, but where’s the fun or challenge in that?

Besides, that would be against the rules, as would taking selfies.

Why??? Because they’re my rules and I made them up and there is just no reasoning with myself.

I know... I've tried... But I just don't listen to me.

So, would I be up to this self imposed challenge requiring eleven photos from all eleven official World Showcase Pavilions?

Read On!

Since I was in already in England, it made sense to just start there.

I went inside the nearest shop and quickly found my first victim… which is to say completely willing participant.

In all seriousness, she could not have been sweeter, and really thought the idea was clever,

And of course said as much in an English accent which will never get a complaint from me.

ONE DOWN… TEN TO GO!

I left the shop and England behind, as I continued on in my quest towards the next country.

Sorry Mary, I can’t stop. I have other photos to get today. You can tell she's not happy with my decision.

I should point out that Disney characters do not count in this game no matter how much they may represent their country of origin.

Only regular CM’s are eligible.

I did, however, stop for a photo on the bridge, just because, well, it’s an awesome backdrop.

Seriously, it’s almost like a painting it’s so pretty.

I then continued on into France and was once again completely mesmerized by the amazing topiaries on display.

OK, enough with the topiaries, I need my CM photo… So where better than the perfume shop.

I found a willing participant, which quickly turned to two, and also found a very excited manager to take the photo.

Honestly, I know France has this reputation for rude people, but everyone here could not have been nicer and, oh yeah,

TWO DOWN… NINE TO GO!



TO BE CONTINUED…
​

 

[emmysmommy]

Yay, Orange! Either colour (I really mean color) would have been nice. (See, I'm writing Canadian just for you eh!)

I guessed it!! I believe CM Around The World will catch on like wild fire and you will have CMs now with queues so guests can pose with them - the ordinary folk of WS you might say. And those royalty cheques, or checks as we call them, will be rolling in so you will definitely be taking more Dis trips! Win win!

Was that a new costume for the England CM? I don't recall seeing that pretty dress before. And she is adorable and posed like a princess for you.

Mary did have a look. Hmmmm.... maybe she needs a spoonful of sugar to make the medicine go down??

So backing up a bit..... love the topiaries -- especially Peter Pan. And of course Hook guards the restrooms, scaring the pee out of kids so bad placement if you ask me.

Looking forward to the other nine CMs. I'm glad you didn't decide to go with the washrooms around the world poses. Definitely not as charming!

 

[gracer9977]

Love the CM's around the world idea. I will send you a check once I complete my tour around in Jan.

Beautiful pics of all the topiaries/flowers, that Peter Pan is awesome.

We always start World Showcase in Canada as well, although that is because my mom always wants to go there first. She is Canadian, born and mostly raised. So she loves to go there and take lots of pictures and watch the show, etc.

Looking forward to hearing all your plans and fast pass choices for your Birthday/Christmas adventure.

 

[Queenofallthings]

Love the CM around the world photo plan....but I have one question! Did this plan come about after you left our home and native land?? Didn't see you with another canuck...I even looked twice

Ok, not sure if the Peter Pan topiary wasn't there last year when Shan and I were at F & G or if I was in too big of a hurray to get to France for my GGS...but I love it!!

Can't wait for the next update! Great beginning to your adventure of the day in Epcot!

 

[teekathepony]

Hooray for orange Magic Bands! Hahaha my colour for the win! So exciting that you got your online check in all done and FP+ too. I found the MDE website worked really well. It seems there are lots of different opinions on it!

I can only go right in WS too. Call it Canadian magnetism.

I love, love, love the CMs Around The World segment. DH was sitting and reading with me and when you stopped at 2/11 he said "Aww that's it??" hahaha Great enthusiasm so far from your international CMs.

Some day I really want to see the Flower & Garden Festival, it's so gorgeous!

 

[cruisingteacher]

I love the idea of CM's around the world!!!

I might have to play that next time I do Epcot.

 

[peachmermaid]

I'm so glad that your December trip is coming together so nicely!

I hope you can bear left one day...trust me, it's pretty nice. That way you end your visit with "going home". But, I do love the Canada pavilion. It's so beautiful. I just love looking at the garden & the hubs LOVES Marty.

Also, I LOVE that idea, taking pics with cast members from their home country pavilion! I'm totally going to do that! I will feel super shy but I think it's too good to pass up. It's like a passport! I love free things in wdw and an excuse to have my husband take pictures of me with cute foreign boys. Such a good idea, Rob! Thanks for sharing!

 

[IheartDDuck]

Well I'm two updates behind because of a super busy week, but I'm going to say get an orange band. That's my vote.

I seriously freaked out about the talking Mickey! I've seen the videos throughout the testing period way before, and I'm definitely going in January.

I have never understood the Land situation either. And that hill feels like it's the steepest mountain on the planet and that you'll never make it to the top.

Got to admit, I totally walk past the people waiting in a standby line with a grin on my face when I have a fastpass. See, I am also five.

Patrick Warburton is Kronk. No one else to me. I crack up every time I watch the video, because I envision "Yzma, put your hands in the air!"

Um, I am curious about what you are thinking will surpass drink around the world. But then again, I am a Drunk Little Cucumber, remember?

CM's around the world is a great idea. How about a spin on things:

CM's around the world while drinking around the world? That might make for some very very very interesting pictures.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Great start to your CMs Around The World effort ... best of luck! Though, noticed you didn't get Canada yet - hit it up to complete the loop?

Love the Peter Pan Topiary ... wish they kept that up after the festival ended