A long weekend with the Mouse, Finally the finale 11/25

[DisneyJo]

OMG that coaster looks scary, doubt I'd get my kids or DH on that

 

[DisneyMissy318]

I'm in! Can't wait to read more... We have season passes for BG Williamsburg. This is our favorite local park and try to make it there a couple of times a season. (Close to a 3 hour drive for us.)

Two things -

First - Thank you! Thank you! How come I never thought to schedule our non-Disney park day at the beginning of our vacation? We Sea World - but on our last two trips we had it scheduled for our last day - but couldn't bear to leave Disney property and have extended our vacation and just skipped Sea World - once we make our way home - we are bummed we didn't go! Now I know - we'll book it for the first day! That was a simple solution - I guess I didn't think of it because I'm so used to getting to Disney property as quickly as possible!

Next - I rode the Gryffon at BG Williamsburg - it looks like it has the same drop as the one you show on the Sheikra - it was "fun" to sit on the edge

 

[puggymom]

Roller coasters rock. I must make it over to BG soon.

Oh yeah, it is worth a trip and you are so close, pick a day in the middle of the week if you can, very low crowds.

Sheikra looks awesome! I love Busch Gardens Williamsburg so I am interested to find out if BG Tampa is up to par. Perhaps I will add it onto the 2010 trip.

I have a bit of a review coming up, stayed tune

BG looks like fun. I'll have to wait until Evan's much taller. Can you imagine his magic shoes there?

: Hmmmmm.... did you take "What were they thinking when they put that on?" pics???

Stayed tuned...

Hi Mo, I am here. Late, but here. I have been to BG in Williamsburg, but everyone tells me the Tamps one is much better. So far it looks like it is

Hi Janet, please I am the queen of lateness when it comes trippies, you are here for the first full day

I am on board...you have a great writing style!!

Thanks and

Yeah Mo! I'm on board, will go back and read in a bit!

Hi Mo! Got your message on Jo's TR so hopping aboard! Looking forward to hearing about the Segway too!

OMG that coaster looks scary, doubt I'd get my kids or DH on that

Oh, I would pay big money to see that

First - Thank you! Thank you! How come I never thought to schedule our non-Disney park day at the beginning of our vacation? We Sea World - but on our last two trips we had it scheduled for our last day - but couldn't bear to leave Disney property and have extended our vacation and just skipped Sea World - once we make our way home - we are bummed we didn't go! Now I know - we'll book it for the first day! That was a simple solution - I guess I didn't think of it because I'm so used to getting to Disney property as quickly as possible!

and Your welcome, I have come to realize that if I don't do the non-Disney stuff first I won't do it at all.

Next - I rode the Gryffon at BG Williamsburg - it looks like it has the same drop as the one you show on the Sheikra - it was "fun" to sit on the edge

I really liked Sheikra, especially the view from the front row

 

[wvdislover]

Sounds fun, so far. Subbing!

 

[Miz Diz]

I don't think I could have ridden Sheikra. Scratch that - I KNOW I would not have ridden it. Looks scary! My stomache dropped just looking at the photos. What was it like going down that drop?

 

[scottny]

Ok that drop looked too intense for me and I love coasters. Loving the report so far.

 

[puggymom]

Sounds fun, so far. Subbing!

I don't think I could have ridden Sheikra. Scratch that - I KNOW I would not have ridden it. Looks scary! My stomache dropped just looking at the photos. What was it like going down that drop?

it was AWESOME!!!!!!!

Ok that drop looked too intense for me and I love coasters. Loving the report so far.

The drop was intense, I loved it though!!!!

Well, my car is getting the brakes replaced so I home all day with the pugs, just spent the morning cleaning and . Will have another update shortly.

 

[puggymom]

What happened? Well, I have some issues with my ears, I have inner ear nerve damage (that I attribute to that Who concert I went to in high school, where we had 15th row on the floor tix and my ears were still ringing the next day) that has caused some hearing loss (left ear is worse, which means my right ear is the good one, got that). As I am riding Montu it happens…


my right ear pops…



loudly…



and painfully …


Uh-oh!


NOT!


GOOD!

As I got off I could tell my equilibrium was off too. Why do I think that, well…um…let’s just say I was walking like some ladies we know and love after Lapu fest 2007. Hmm, maybe I should stay off the coasters today. I only missed riding Gwazi, which is a wooden one with no loops. It probably would have been ok, but I didn’t want to risk it. With that I headed back to the train station and hopped on…

This was the only thing that was crowded all day, and can’t imagine what it would be like when there are more people in the park. Anywho, here are some not so great pics of the safari area…

I got off the train sort of near where Sheikra was and that’s when the skies opened up. Of course I had ponchos with me…


In my suitcase…


Which was in the car…

I got stuck standing under some stand selling infant stuff. It didn’t last long and as I was standing there I realized I was hungry. I still had that banana from breakfast in my bag, but decided I wanted a nice lunch and didn’t want to spoil my appetite.

I headed over here, Crown Colony House.

The restaurant is on the 3rd floor with indoor and outdoor seating. Today there was absolutely no wait and I was seated immediately, inside, no way was I sitting outside in that soupy mess. The rain only made it stickier out (which makes me wonder how comfortable wearing a plastic poncho would be ???). I ordered the turkey sammie on what was some sort of whole grain bread. It was very good, and I really needed the protein at that point and it helped pick my energy up. I really enjoyed this restaurant and would plan to eat here again. I don’t think there were any other sit down restaurants in the park, at least none that I know of.

Next I went over to the walk through exhibit Edge of Africa…

This one is for you Fockers…

Aww, look how they are curled up with each other

And then I did the skyride over the park, I still love these rides, they are so quiet and relaxing. I miss the MK one. I have some cool pics from the mid 90's from that ride. Here is a self portrait on the skyride.

When I got off the skyride I somehow ended up near the elephants, not sure how I managed that…

Continued in next post...

 

[puggymom]

And from there went to see some monkey’s and gorillas, which was another walk through exhibit. Here is the sign out front

And a little closer to see the weather conditions!

I have to say the weather was getting the better of me at this point and so was my sweet tooth. I remembered seeing a candy shop and I had a craving to satisfy. I got boring peanut M&M’s, but they were just what I needed, something sweet to snack on. At this point it was just too hot to last any longer and since I didn’t have a hotel to go back to I decided it was time to go home…


to my happy place…



to WDW!!!!


So, I really enjoyed BG (I went to BG Williamsburg several years ago and this beat it) and will return when it is not so sticky out. I loved the shopping here (but I was good, remember on the TFW thread I said no shopping this trip, RIGHT? ).

This along with Universal is something I would like to do every couple of years. Don’t get me wrong I am still a WDW girl in my heart and my soul , but I do appreciate what the other parks have to offer.


Next up, Um, I think I need a clean shirt…

 

[cmp1111]

Sounds like a really nice day! I love your self-portrait!

 

[scottny]

Great update. last time I was at BG my Grandmother had a heart attack while we were there. Not the greatest memory and I would like to go back one day and see it again.

Pics=

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Happened upon this TR and ready to read more!! Love the pics so far!!

Scott, how awful

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Busch Gardens sounds great. I hope that your ear doesn't bother you too much over the rest of the trip.

 

[puggymom]

Sounds like a really nice day! I love your self-portrait!

Thank you, there wer other efforts but this one came out the best!

Great update. last time I was at BG my Grandmother had a heart attack while we were there. Not the greatest memory and I would like to go back one day and see it again.

Pics=

AWWW

I hope you do give it another try, it is a great park!

Happened upon this TR and ready to read more!! Love the pics so far!!

Busch Gardens sounds great. I hope that your ear doesn't bother you too much over the rest of the trip.

I really did enjoy BG, there will be more about that ear later in the trip

 

[scottny]

AWWW I hope you do give it another try, it is a great park!

I certainly will get over there again.

 

[LurrrvtheDuck]

Mo! I finally got caught up.

Woohoo on BG! We've only been once when we were visiting friends in Tampa and 3 of the roller coasters were down. The wooden one is excellent though, my brother and I rode that one like 3 times.

Need to get back there someday.

Ugh on your ear though!

Did you see the clydesdales? I think the beer tasting station was near that if memory serves correctly.

And you are not chubby.

You're off to everyone's Happy Place though!

 

[jcc0621]

Hope your ear is feeling better before you get to WDW! That restuarant looked really nice. I too miss the sky ride at MK

 

[PrincessV]

You know what I love about I-4, the 70 mph speed limit. Which of course means you do at least 75.

That's how we identify tourists around here - the real Floridians do a minimum 85 on I-4

Which I was glad, as when I got to the park the sign said today’s hours were 9:30 – 5. See you can’t believe everything you read on the internet.

Rule #1 - trust nothing on Anheiser Busch's theme park sites.

I am sure once you are use to the park it is easy to get around, but I was a little discombobulated.

Nope. I can't even count how many days I've spent in BG (I live about 40 minutes away), and I still get confused!

I guess this is what I have to expect for next August.

From there I found my way to Kumba another great coaster ride, that was also a walk on.

Yay - love my Kumba runs!

As I am riding Montu it happens…


my right ear pops…



loudly…



and painfully …

But I am glad to hear it wasn't that you got stuck upside down for untold hours. I've actually stopped riding Montu just becuase it gets stuck on a semi-regular basis.

I only missed riding Gwazi, which is a wooden one with no loops. It probably would have been ok, but I didn’t want to risk it.

OH NO! You missed V's Third Favorite Wooden Coaster ever??! Good decision, though - it pulls some MAJOR G's.

I headed over here, Crown Colony House.

I'm glad you enjoyed this meal - I love the Crown Colony House! And it has nothing to do with the free beer samples offered downstairs.

I don’t think there were any other sit down restaurants in the park, at least none that I know of.

Not really. There is Oktoberfest, but it's more of a counter service.

This along with Universal is something I would like to do every couple of years.

If ever you'd like a BG touring partner, just give me a shout!

 

[puggymom]

Did you see the clydesdales? I think the beer tasting station was near that if memory serves correctly.

Unfortunately they were not out, maybe too hot? Oh and it was way to hot and sticky to have alcohol!

You're off to everyone's Happy Place though!

With a Zorylee moment too...

Hope your ear is feeling better before you get to WDW! That restuarant looked really nice. I too miss the sky ride at MK

I really did like that restaurant

That's how we identify tourists around here - the real Floridians do a minimum 85 on I-4

Nope. I can't even count how many days I've spent in BG (I live about 40 minutes away), and I still get confused!

Well that makes me feel better!

But I am glad to hear it wasn't that you got stuck upside down for untold hours. I've actually stopped riding Montu just becuase it gets stuck on a semi-regular basis.

Glad I know that know and not 2 weeks ago

If ever you'd like a BG touring partner, just give me a shout!

You're on!

 

[puggymom]

As I am walking to the car leaving BG, the skies open up, I am in the lot nearest the park, only a few rows behind the handicap section, but it is still a bit of a walk and I am soaked when I get to the car. I start thinking I can’t wear this shirt to my ADR at 50’s Prime Time. Now remember I did carryon only, so I didn’t bring extra clothes. As I get on 75 South to go to I4, I see 75North is bumper to bumper, better them than me, I got a mouse to see.

I turn onto I4 East at 2:10 and it stops, but only for a short distance and then we start moving for 2 minutes and stop again. Oh, no I don’t think I will make my ADR for 6:10 at this pace. Luckily they were only minor accidents and after that it was smooth sailing straight through to 192. Which I got on at 2:55. Hmmm, I see I will hit WDW property by 3 pm which leaves plenty of time to go, um, shopping at DTD. I know there is a guest services there where I can renew my recently expired AP. And the WoD is there too…


Where they sell shirts…


That are clean (well more clean than the one I am wearing)…


And haven’t been sweated in…


Or at least not rained on….


OK, I will buy one shirt and be on my way to check in at POFQ. I get to DTD and realize I have no idea where Guest Services is at DTD, so I go into WoD and ask, just go straight through Arribas and it is across from the BBB photo shoot. Great I renew my AP with my recently acquired DVC discount and head back to WoD. I knew exactly what shirt I wanted. I had bought the same shirt in navy last time and when I got home wished I had bought it in white too. It is the V neck that has Walt Disney World in small letters on the upper left front. Here is the one I bought last spring…

Well they only have it in pink, in size small. They are putting all the winter stuff out already. Never mind how frickin hot out it is. I find another t-shirt that is a very light weight cotton that should be good for next August and I get that with my AP discount.

Since I haven’t checked in yet I don’t have my KTTW card yet, so I use my Disney Visa. The clerk tells me it would be better to use the Disney Visa discount when spending over $25, so you get 20% off. Hmm, I didn’t know that (remember this). With my new sort of clean shirt I head over to POFQ to check in. Except I don’t know where it is….