A Haunting, A Run, & Some Food & Wine: 3 Fall 2013 Trips - Complete

[missangelalexis]

Sounds like you guys got a lot done on the first night despite being tired! Can't wait to read more

 

[Dis_Yoda]

Here!

Great pics!

Glad you are enjoying them!

Sounds like you guys got a lot done on the first night despite being tired! Can't wait to read more

We really did. It was way too busy of a day for the way we usually vacation but on short trips you gotta do what you gotta do.

 

[Dis_Yoda]

Cabins & Video Games​

Once it was time to head over, we walked through security & headed to the special line area for on site guests. Compared to the area for the regular public, it was empty!

Just as we arrived, there was a miniscene of a host killing off a zombie to 'open' the park.

Here is a copy Inside the Magic posted of the Opening Scaremony:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZmR-qMsAVI

We headed off to our first of the warehouse houses, Cabin in the Woods

They had let us in line but they didn't actually let anyone into the house until 6:00PM.

If you've seen the movie, this house is more based off the monsters than the movie.

I didn't get pictures inside the houses as they are very dark & I would have felt rude even having my screen light up with my camera (even without the flash) If you like spoilers, Inside the Magic also posted a video of this house.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nUH2fc01gY

This house was easily the scariest of the houses we ended up doing. I ran into the very tall guy in front of me a few times thanks to the scare actors. (Especially at the blade guy!)

When we left the house, we didn't realize how long of a walk it was to get 'back' into the park. We followed the exit around all the other sound stages to make it back out to the main area.

The next house we got in line for was Resident Evil.

I liked how on the outside of the soundstage it showed all the shows that were taped in there back in the 90s when it was actually a soundstage!

Upon leaving the house, you don't have a happy ending

I liked this house a lot. It wasn't as frightening as Cabin in the Woods & you felt as if you were actually in the game with some of the effects inside.

Here is Inside the Magic's Video of the House if you like to be spoiled.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7buf54IMpOw

We began the long walk back to the front again as it exited the same place as Cabin in the Woods did.

 

[Dis_Yoda]

Raise the Dead (or Terror)​

The zombies were out for scares at the corner near the entrance of Evil Dead.

The line for Evil Dead was already at 30 minutes so we got into that line before it would get worse.

While in line, we were behind a dad and his very young daughter. It was extremely obvious to all that she just didn't want to be there & hated that her dad made her come.

I ended up being really happy when we got stopped before them when entering the house to let in the express line. I would have felt bad throughout most of the walk of the house as she was shaking before she even got in.

& Inside the Magic's Full Video of the House since I couldn't take pictures
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCrp7QnBJic

My husband got targetted by a great many of those scares where as they ignored me.

Upon leaving the house, I needed a shot. Luckily the blood shot lady was there selling some.

We were enjoying the people watching while I drank my blood with the zombies by the tank scaring the guests.

I think the zombies got him

& him too

There was still one attraction we hadn't gotten to yet the day before which was the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit.

We placed all our belongings in the locker & went to wait in line. There was actually a wait for this ride as they had to stop it as well to add another vehicle to the line.

I have done many rollercoasters in my time. This is the first time I've ever been truly frightened before launching onto the ride. It wasn't because of the vertical decent. It was because as we are moving along the moving track & everyone is locking their restraint, we had ours reopen about 3 times. In fact we were about 3 feet from starting our climb up the vertical wall, still moving when it opened again. The vehicle did stop at least about the time I think I screamed - more than when the blade guy startled me in Cabin in the Woods.

We got stopped because there was a guy who was had a rather large girth that couldn't get his restraint to 'click' into place. He had to have 2 attendants help him get it clicked. I'm not sure why they let him stay on the ride or why he tried to get on it without testing the outside seats by the entrance of the ride. As a larger person myself (although I've lost about 60lbs since 2011 now), I understand needing to use those seats to make sure I fit onto rides. In fact, I tried it on this ride as I know Universal has issues from time to time. (I had to use the 'special' seats on the Hulk/Dueling Dragons back in 2009)

The ride was very thrilling. I'm sure I would have loved it more had I not been scared the restraints were going to give out again.

When we got off that ride, I was done. I figured none of the rest of the houses would be able to scare me as much as going onto the ride did.

I was ready to get back to the room, relax & go to bed.

We did exit through the shop & got a visit from a friend

He got kicked out by management as they weren't having it.

We ended up taking the boat back to the hotel as I was lazy.

We stopped by the bar at Portofino, The Thirsty Fish. I got a very strong vodka drink & brought it back to the room.

 

[Dis_Yoda]

Going Home​

We slept until we woke up, which for us was a very late 6:30AM

We figured there was no use hanging out around the hotel & left shortly after we got moving. We knew we had things to accomplish at home for work the next day.

Goodbye Hotel!

And tiled elevators

And $18 a day parking

Wait, we didn't visit that!

We stopped about 40 minutes into our drive for Starbucks & gas.

Oh Iced Non-Fat Salted Caramel Mocha No Whip - How I <3 Thee

Driving down I-4, we debated that on one of my three day weekends I'll be getting for AWS on going a tourist trap road tour of southern & central Florida.

I mean, who doesn't want to visit a place as awesome as Dinosaur World?

Once we got to I-75, I decided to annoy my husband with listing out the menu for the F&W Booths.

No, I will not try Grapefruit Beer

Once we got to Naples, our favorite type of rain started. Sunny Rain!

We got home, snapped a picture of our keys before we trashed them & begun our day of real life.

 

[jerseytinkerbell]

Eeeek! The houses look ridiculously scary! I couldn't do it. The Cabin In The Woods one looks pretty awesome though. I like the section where you walk by all the elevators and the various creatures come popping out. It looked so much like the movie. I was so curious what it was like so thanks for posting the links!

I think the restraints not locking properly on that ride would have scared me more than the houses too! That is very very unnerving. Didn't they shut that ride down a few years ago to fix issues with the restraints?

 

[TigerKat]

Having been on Rip Ride Rockit, I would have had a freaking heart attack had that happened to me, YIKES!!!!!!!

Enjoying reading along here!

 

[Dis_Yoda]

Eeeek! The houses look ridiculously scary! I couldn't do it. The Cabin In The Woods one looks pretty awesome though. I like the section where you walk by all the elevators and the various creatures come popping out. It looked so much like the movie. I was so curious what it was like so thanks for posting the links!

I think the restraints not locking properly on that ride would have scared me more than the houses too! That is very very unnerving. Didn't they shut that ride down a few years ago to fix issues with the restraints?

They houses were really startling. Looking at the videos though - it seemed I missed a few major things in the houses as you are really walking through in a conga line in the house. Evil Dead was more like the movie I thought as it seemed it was a scene by scene walk through.

I think its the ride that had its opening delayed because of the restraints or maybe it was just normal construction issues. I think Universal also had some restraint issues with the Harry Potter Ride how it originally wouldn't let anyone bigger on it but I think they ended up modifying a handful of seats to allow that.

Having been on Rip Ride Rockit, I would have had a freaking heart attack had that happened to me, YIKES!!!!!!!

Enjoying reading along here!

At least I'm not the only one then. I was on the verge of a panic attack or something. I'm sure my knuckles were extremely white!

Thanks for joining in

 

[Dis_Yoda]

Tequila Dinner & 5 Day Countdown​

Last week, our local southwestern restaurant had their monthly tequila dinner. A group of us from work went as it was the same day as one of their birthday's.

The pastry chef there was featured on Sugar Dome on the Food Network on its first season. I've always loved his desserts. It is a great deal for the $50 it is! You get 4 shots of tequila plus 4 mini-margaritas.

~~~~

I started pulling things together for the trip this weekend.

I made some more Fastpass+ selections that may or may not end up being used.

I was able to make this one:

We didn't order ahead because I'm not sure I know what we would want that day.

I also pulled out the suitcases & started to pack. I had some help that wasn't happy.

Being able to drive tends to leave me to overpacking as I'm not worried about weight. 1 suitcase for my husband, 1 suitcase for 'other' (toiletries, shoes, etc), 1 suitcase for my clothes & then the small one is our 'snacks' aka mainly our morning energy drinks we tend to drink at Disney anyway & rather than pay $4/piece at Contempo Cafe - I picked them up in flavors we like at Target for $1.50/piece. My husband also made me pick him up an 18 pack of diet Mountain Dew. We won't have refillable mugs this trip so having stuff for the room is important. There is no way I'm spending $17.99 for one! The only thing left is to pick up a bunch of bananas but I'll do that after the gym on Wednesday.

As far as our to-do list before the trip.
1) Finish Packing. I'll do this Wednesday night after work when I do laundry.
2) Request Friday off of work completely once I get my 7.4 hr monthly grant on Tuesday. Hopefully my boss approves it. To make sure he does, I have to finish 2 A3s/10 Step Problem Solving Events tomorrow on top of my normal work duties. (If anyone knows about Lean Manufacturing, you know what those entail)
3) Get the boarding confirmed for the dogs to change their drop off time.
4) Clean the house. We have a friend that will be watching it.
5) Print off our 5k Waivers to be signed

Not too much that I can't handle.

We are planning on leaving around 7:30 Friday Morning instead up a half day at work. This will get us into Disney around 10:30 where we'll check in, get a quick lunch & head over to Wide World of Sports for the Expo/Packet Pick Up. Once we get back from the Expo, we'll head over to Magic Kingdom until they close at 7PM.

 

[franandaj]

I can't believe you're going to run after the Grand Marnier event!

You asked about my trip to Atlanta, there is a group called the Lesbian and Gay Bands Association and the annual conference is being held in Atlanta this year. We haven't been since 2007 when the Gay Games were in Chicago, so we're going for that event. There is usually a concert where 200 or so people perform on stage. It's kind of a mix of work and pleasure, it's fun to see old friends, but we actually have to attend meetings and rehearsals, so it's not all fun and games. For the most part it is fun because we get to make music!

Only a few days until the next part of your trip. We have a 12 pack (minus two) of Diet Mtn Dew in our fridge at the VWL right now. That and diet Dr. Pepper, and then I have my Black Box Chardonnay!

 

[Dis_Yoda]

I can't believe you're going to run after the Grand Marnier event!

You asked about my trip to Atlanta, there is a group called the Lesbian and Gay Bands Association and the annual conference is being held in Atlanta this year. We haven't been since 2007 when the Gay Games were in Chicago, so we're going for that event. There is usually a concert where 200 or so people perform on stage. It's kind of a mix of work and pleasure, it's fun to see old friends, but we actually have to attend meetings and rehearsals, so it's not all fun and games. For the most part it is fun because we get to make music!

Only a few days until the next part of your trip. We have a 12 pack (minus two) of Diet Mtn Dew in our fridge at the VWL right now. That and diet Dr. Pepper, and then I have my Black Box Chardonnay!

We run prior to the Grand Marnier Event. This girl can only handle the 5k, not the 10 Miler. I still probably have about 35 lbs more to lose before I could attempt to run that much. (And if I lose 35 more pounds, I have a pair of very nice shoes picked out as a reward) So we'll probably just end up tipsy quicker than usual unless we rehydrate really well. Saturday is super busy for us. Up at 5AM - Drive to Wide World of Sports - Race starts at 7:30AM - Probably make it back to BLT by 10AMish. Quick soak in the hot tub or maybe just long showers then off to EPCOT!

My husband sure does love his Diet Mtn Dew. Luckily it was on sale at Publix today - $3.99 for the 18 pack. Way better than spending the $5.89 for a 12 pack it has been lately.

 

[franandaj]

I wish that my We Go Shop lady had noticed that. We are getting a rental car for a day today and plan to go pick up a few more provisions, we might get some more Dew. I didn't realize there were multiple races that day. I know someone doing the night race.

 

[Dis_Yoda]

I wish that my We Go Shop lady had noticed that. We are getting a rental car for a day today and plan to go pick up a few more provisions, we might get some more Dew. I didn't realize there were multiple races that day. I know someone doing the night race.

It might have just been a local store thing. I had to stop by a different Publix to pick up lunch for work & they weren't at the big display in the front as they were at my normal store even though typically they have the same layout.

Yeah - most race race weekends have multiple races going on - either a 5k or a 10k to go along with the major races. (Or you can have the crazy person on the Marathon weekend that runs the 5, 10k, Half Marathon & Marathon) I think thats great as not everyone can be at the same level.

Maybe next year I can handle the 10 Miler but lets get through the 5k first.


~

As far as my to do list. I got my waivers printed. I got this Friday off on approved vacation. I have the dogs confirmed (I can drop them off as early as 7:30am!) I started cleaning last night. I'm going to try to run 5k on the treadmill today. Tomorrow will just be a 20 minute run. Skipping the gym Thursday as having a Girl's Night is more important (she leaves on vacation right as we come back) Then its officially vacation.

Work has been crazy busy but I'm bringing my laptop home each night as well to make sure I'm as caught up as possible. Its amazing how quickly I can get things done when I'm not distracted.

 

[Dis_Yoda]

Driving up I-75 as we speak. 2 hours until Disney!

 

[jerseytinkerbell]

Driving up I-75 as we speak. 2 hours until Disney!

Awesome! Have a great time!

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Driving up I-75 as we speak. 2 hours until Disney!

Have a great time ... good luck with the race!

 

[franandaj]

Driving up I-75 as we speak. 2 hours until Disney!

Awesome! I'm sure you're all settled and checked in by now! We're in our way to Cali Grill and our Hallowishes cruise. Good luck on the race tomorrow! I'll see you at the Grand Marnier tasting tomorrow!

 

[Tink rules]

 

[Dis_Yoda]

Awesome! Have a great time!

Thanks! We sure are so far.

Have a great time ... good luck with the race!

Thank you. We're excited for tomorrow, especially seeing the energy at the Expo today.

Awesome! I'm sure you're all settled and checked in by now! We're in our way to Cali Grill and our Hallowishes cruise. Good luck on the race tomorrow! I'll see you at the Grand Marnier tasting tomorrow!

We are! We were able to get into the room after our visit to Expo so we settled in before heading to the park. I got the best shirt for tomorrow at the Expo & I hope I don't sweat too bad so I can wear it into EPCOT tomorrow but we'll see what happens. Enjoy California Grill & your Hallowishes Cruise. I may be going up to Top of the World to watch it up there but we'll see how we feel later.

 

[Dis_Yoda]

How much did you put in that car?​

When we loaded my husband's car last night, he was convinced that there was going to be no way we could get our luggage, the dogs & us into his car. I was stubborn & had no desire to drive to Bonita Springs, drop them off, go home, then leave for Disney. Didn't you know I wanted to get on the road?

That made for the most uncomfortable 25 minute drive in the world. I ended up having to sit in the back of his car with one dog in my lap while the other sat up front. The back of my husband's car is not made for any adult to sit in so it was fun.

Hi Mom!

I'm so close to you, you can't get a picture of me

I help drive, right?

We got them checked in a little after 7:30am at the boarding facility. I was impressed with how cleaned it seemed. The runs were large as well. They get 4 times outside a day as well in a private run with one on one time. And for the area, it seemed super cheap, especially considering the reviews online (Only $50 a day for the two of them)

We headed back to the highway. Had a small fight about directions (my husband & I can't be in a car together for long without some type that is done in about 10 minutes)

Heading up I-75, we found the safest people ever driving 80 mph on the highway.

Safety starts with me!

As we got close to Disney, we got our magic bands on!

This is the only picture where my husband wasn't flicking off the camera...

Finally!

We checked in online previous the visit, so we figured it would be quick to check in. None of our information retained. Luckily, I had the credit card handy for room charge so we re did check in. Not shockingly, our room was not ready. (It was 10:45AM at a DVC resort)

We headed to lunch at Contempo Cafe as it was quick & the Expo wouldn't open until noon anyway.

Root Beer Float Cupcake

We split this & still didn't eat much more than half. It was a root beer cake w/ vanilla frosting & malted milk balls. It was good but probably not the best thing to eat for the very first food one has all day.

Yes, we ate dessert first, but its vacation & we had to wait for our actual food to be ready.

Boring drinks!

Chicken Caesar Salad

Pepperoni Flatbread

Both of us liked our entrees fine enough. Nothing exciting but filling. Neither of us finished though.

As our room wasn't ready, we decided to head to the Expo at Wide World of Sports for race check-in.