8/21-8/25: cool " celebrity " siting, and no crowds :)

[Kteacher]

We just returned last night from a quick 5 day trip. We've never been this time of year, so really didn't know what to expect, crowd level wise. Reports I read here on the DIS from the first week of the free DDP left me thinking we were going to , but we didn't find this at all. We had hopper passes, and avoided the EMH parks ( after talking with other people we met in the parks last week, I'm glad we avoided the EMH parks- they said the waits were ridiculously long ). Our arrival day -8/21, we didn't get to MK until after 12, and we were still able to walk on to Pirates- loved all the new additions to this, all 3 mountains-I think we did Splash and Space 2-3 times each, haunted Mansion a few times, Buzz a few times- this trip me, DH, and DS16 were all able to score 999,999 TTA, lunch at CHH, and we were back at the Poly relaxing by about 3:30. No park after our Ohana dinner- we had an early flight that morning, so we took it easy
8/22- got up early to go to AK. We were there for park opening, and were able to walk on to Expedition Everest- loved this ride, everything about it , get a FP for it, ride Dinosaur and Primeval Whirl, both walk ons, and then go back to ride EE a second time. When we exited EE, surprise, look who we saw

he was surrounded by WDW CMs, so it was hard to get close, but I was able to get one good picture . We also walked right on to Bug's Life and kilamanjaro Safari. We had lunch at Tusker House- no lines here either- and had about a 30 minute wait to ride Kali river Rapids. we went back to the resort to take a break before heading out to Epcot that night........

 

[LaPatita]

Who is he?

 

[buffalogirl]

I didn't know either. Please tell us.

 

[Nik's Mom]

I can't tell from the profile.

 

[cocowum]

Wow, that's awesome. Were you able to get his autograph?

ETA: He is the chief imagineer and creator of Animal Kingdom. Joe Rhode(sp?)

 

[Haveamagicalday!]

That is sooo amazing! I love Joe Rhode! He is truly one of the best Imagineers of all time! I would have to fight my way in the crowd to get to see him. What a neat experience to see the creator of EE right before you ride it! Awesome! Sounds like a great day too!

 

[northie]

Very cool! And at Animal Kingdom no less! I think of him everytime I am at Animal Kingdom...what a fabulous job he has!

Sara

 

[HayGan]

That is one celeb I would have waited to get an autograph from!!!

I can never understand how he wears those big earrings! They look soooooooooo heavy They are super cool though

 

[Kteacher]

I couldn't get close enough to get an autograph, but it was still pretty cool to come off EE and see him standing there Here's a pic of EE as you exit :

We went to Epcot the evening of 8/22, we didn't arrive until about 6, but walked on to Spaceship Earth, did single rider line for Test Track, DS16, wanted to ride Maelstrom, so we headed over there and walked on, then went to Le Cellier, where we experienced the longest wait time for our entire trip

8/23, we went to MGM in the morning, did RNR 3 times in a row with no wait, ToT no wait ( actually, the posted wait time was 13 minutes, which I thought was cute , Great Movie Ride, and Muppets .........

 

[heidica]

Wow, that's awesome. Were you able to get his autograph?

ETA: He is the chief imagineer and creator of Animal Kingdom. Joe Rhode(sp?)

Very cool. I really enjoyed the tv program they made about following him around in the Himalayas while he researched the Yeti for EE. He spent a lot of time and research on that Yeti. Can't wait to see it for myself next year and I will appreciate how much work went into creating it. Also, you see him all the time whenever the Travel Channel runs their 1 hour show about AK

 

[Kteacher]

..................make sure you look for the key under the mat at Muppets

That evening we went back to MK, again no real wait longer than 15-20 minutes

8/24 we headed back to Epcot in the morning so we could ride Soarin'. arrived at park opening, and were able to ride Soarin' 3 times in a row- we love this ride . Did test track a few times, Ice Station Cool-wish they hadn't changed it , DH, and DS wanted to ride Mission Space. DD, didn't want to, so we went over to Innoventions and did the robot race, then made our own plastic robots to take home . We had an ADR for lunch at Rose & Crown, and were seated just as the skies opened up. We finished lunch just as the sun was coming back out. Headed back to Epcot after a break at the resort. This was just to walk through World Showcase, do some shopping, and watch Illuminations. Sat in our favorite spot by Outpost with some margaritas and churros ( margaritas for me and DH, churros for DD , and made it back to the Poly in time to watch Wishes from the beach ...........

 

[Kteacher]

................8/25, boy the week went by fast!!! Went over to MK on our last day, rode Splash Mountain twice, Thunder Mountain, Haunted Mansion, Peter Pan.... here's a photo of a typical wait time that morning ( this was taken around 10:30-11:00 in fantasyland )

.....we walked onto Mickey's Philharmagic, did Space Mountain twice, and Buzz too many times to remember. We left MK at around 12:30, and the skies opened up as we were riding the monorail back to the Poly.


.....So, all in all , a great trip . There were only a few encounters with clueless people: One of times on Splash Mountain we had a large group right behind us. Three were in the same boat as us, and the rest of the group were in the boat behind ours. The entire ride they had a screaming contest Then the girl behind , about 8 or 9 by the looks, kept standing up and pounding the back of our seat Anouncements were made several times over the PA to remain seated, but they never stopped the ride. The worst part was when the tried to rock the boat by standing up and pulling on the sides with their arms. At that point DH turned around and gave the 3 in our boat " the look ", but when he turned around, the little girl spit at him
We also rode with so many people taking flash pictures this trip that it got very annoying. I'm not talking one or 2 pictures, but pictures of every scene in Pirates and Spaceship Earth, sometimes the same person would use 2 cameras
....and not to but... we saw Heeleys everywhere in the parks, and almost got run into more times than I care to remember. We also saw so many bathing suit tops on women that we thought we missed the memo on it being official bathing suit day at the MK- most of the women had bikini tops with just a regular wrap over their bikini bottom, the type you would wear to the pool or the beach.............whatever

So, I'm glad we went, glad to be home, glad all the is done, and even more glad I'm going back in October

 

[pixiechick]

.
....and not to but... we saw Heeleys everywhere in the parks, and almost got run into more times than I care to remember. We also saw so many bathing suit tops on women that we thought we missed the memo on it being official bathing suit day at the MK- most of the women had bikini tops with just a regular wrap over their bikini bottom, the type you would wear to the pool or the beach.............whatever

So, I'm glad we went, glad to be home, glad all the is done, and even more glad I'm going back in October

TOO FUNNY!!!
We got back last night and I was going to post the same thing! Teeny, tiny bikini tops! As in you couldn't imagine how they got in the park!

Heeleys in Epcot during the rain... we saw a couple of kids wipe out because of the slick pavement.
We won't be back until December but we can't wait either!

 

[DznyLvr2005]

Joe Rhode! How does that ear look in person!?

 

[notnothin]

Nice! I saw some other pics of Joe on another site from the same day. I would love to see him in person and get some pics of that famous earring!

 

[DISNEYDUET]

Too Cool!!!! He is a Disney God!!! He has the best job in the world. And talented! Walt would be so proud of the amazing work he has done.

 

[disneycutie84]

Yeah that guy is awesome. I recently watched the Travel Channel special on AK, he was so creative!
Gotta love that out of control earring.

 

[Hoosier Mom]

..................make sure you look for the key under the mat at Muppets

QUOTE]

Why? What happens? Is it embarrassing?

 

[eblack0409]

How awesome!!!!

 

[Kteacher]

Hoosier Mom- Muppets is full of really cool things at the entrance and in the pre show area. To the right of the turnstiles at the ticket counter window is a sign that tells you to use the key under the mat to get in I also love the " net full of jello "