DaveinFallsChurch
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2011
Wednesday, October 17th
Day 2 started unexpectedly early for me when my eyes opened a little after 3am. Darn jetlag! My body was thinking its 6am and time to get the kids up and ready for school! I tried in vein for another 30 minutes tossing and turning trying to fall back asleep. I spent another 30 minutes surfing the DISboards and finally was able to fall back asleep from 4-6am. I showered and got dressed. The water temperature for the shower at this motel was as advertised. It went from hot to cold to hot in a matter of seconds and I suspect it had something to do with how many other people were using the water as well. On my way out of the hotel, I stopped by the front desk to make a request to have an iron and aboard delivered to my room. The older gentleman manning the front desk said he would leave a note for housekeeping, but I was not very confident that he would follow through based on his demeanor and how he immediately got distracted by another guest while I was giving him my room number.
I started walking up Harbor Blvd around 6:50am. The street was pretty much deserted except for a handful of joggers. I walked north past the park entrances. My breakfast plans were to eat at Mimi's Café which is located right by the Howard Johnsons. I had an amusing flashback as I stared at the HoJo building. I suddenly remembered that this is where we stayed with my family 28 years ago when I was last here. All these years I couldn't remember the name of the hotel, but just seeing it brought it back. I walked into Mimi's as they were just opening the restaurant and became their first customer for the day. Ordered an egg benedict, coffee, and a LARGE orange juice.
I've never seen oj served in these types of glasses which gave me a chuckle. A few days later in San Diego, I was served oj in the exact same glass at Broken Yolk which begs the question is this a southern California thing? The egg benedict was good. I browsed on my ipad while eating, checking the weather, my facebook page, etc. By the time I left, a few families were being seated. I walked backed south on Harbor towards the park entrances following a couple of families with earhats on as I crossed the street.
When I entered the plaza for the park entrances, it was just about 8am. On my left there were relatively long lines already forming for what I assumed was early entry for DCA.
On my right, there was also a line forming for DL but not as long.
At first, I mistakenly assumed that these were also for early entries as well so I stayed back not getting in a line while I took pictures. Shortly later, I realized that there shouldnt be early entries for Wednesday so I got in one of the lines and was about 15 people behind from the turnstiles. It's funny how when youre standing in line at Disney, time flies. I was just enjoying the warm sunshine while doing some people watching.
Disney Pumpkins!
Loved how they did her ribbon!
A little after 8:30am, they opened the gates and a stream of people walked through. I followed the other visitors, passing in front of the train station. I did miss seeing a rope drop show like the one at MK.
Main Street was covered and lined with its fall and Halloween decorations. A giant Mickey pumpkin stood in front of the flagpole.
Seeing Sleeping Beauty's Castle in the distance was just as magical as seeing Cinderella's Castle down Main Street.
I crossed over to the entrance of Tomorrowland where a rope held the crowd back. I made my way to the front and side of the rope. It was a little weird to see the Astro Orbitor so front and center by the entrance of Tomorrowland. At 9am, the rope dropped and there was a mad dash in. Nobody was outright running but there was definitely a push by the crowd with everyone walking fast. The mother of three kids who was pushing a stroller standing next to me right before the rope dropped, clipped her daughters heels as she rushed in. I made my way to the FP machines for Star Tours. Several people were already there rapidly inserting each park pass through the machines, then running off to Space Mountain which is where I was headed after I got my own FP for Star Tours. Even though I didnt know exactly where SM was located, all I had to do was follow the crowd!
I entered the queue which snaked around a bit before exiting to an outdoor portion of the queue where the roof of SM was seen.
It really wasnt that bad of a wait, probably only 10 minutes when I was seated. The guy seated next to me did not seem too amused about the ride or having to sit next to a stranger while his two female friends took the front seat. The ride was definitely much smoother than the one at MK. I had a blast riding it. They added some Halloween theming with projections of what can be best described as space ghosts. I dont know how I feel about this theming felt it was a little too hokey. But the coaster ride itself was great.
I walked over to Finding Nemo Submarine after exiting SM. I was excited about this since the last time I rode this was when it was called 20,000 leagues under the sea. I had no idea what this new theming was going to be like since I avoided looking up any pictures or videos.
Say it with me now - Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine!
We were directed into the submarine where each of us sat in one of the fold out seats and each passenger has his or her own window.
Just a little crammed with an awkward view of the Captain's rear.
At first, the ride started out just as how I remembered it from my childhood. There were reefs and giant clams to look at as the submarine moved forward.
Pick a Pearl!
But shortly into the ride, we entered a cave and the ride turned into one very similar to the one at The Seas Pavillion at Epcot where digital projections of characters from Nemo were superimposed onto the water scenery.
Mt. Wannahockaloogie!
I think it was longer than the one at Epcot and was fun to watch. A 4 year old boy was sitting next to me with his father and he was loving the ride. As the ride ended, he was busy recounting the highlights to his dad. Very cute.
Next Up: In a Galaxy Far Far Away......
Day 2 started unexpectedly early for me when my eyes opened a little after 3am. Darn jetlag! My body was thinking its 6am and time to get the kids up and ready for school! I tried in vein for another 30 minutes tossing and turning trying to fall back asleep. I spent another 30 minutes surfing the DISboards and finally was able to fall back asleep from 4-6am. I showered and got dressed. The water temperature for the shower at this motel was as advertised. It went from hot to cold to hot in a matter of seconds and I suspect it had something to do with how many other people were using the water as well. On my way out of the hotel, I stopped by the front desk to make a request to have an iron and aboard delivered to my room. The older gentleman manning the front desk said he would leave a note for housekeeping, but I was not very confident that he would follow through based on his demeanor and how he immediately got distracted by another guest while I was giving him my room number.
I started walking up Harbor Blvd around 6:50am. The street was pretty much deserted except for a handful of joggers. I walked north past the park entrances. My breakfast plans were to eat at Mimi's Café which is located right by the Howard Johnsons. I had an amusing flashback as I stared at the HoJo building. I suddenly remembered that this is where we stayed with my family 28 years ago when I was last here. All these years I couldn't remember the name of the hotel, but just seeing it brought it back. I walked into Mimi's as they were just opening the restaurant and became their first customer for the day. Ordered an egg benedict, coffee, and a LARGE orange juice.
I've never seen oj served in these types of glasses which gave me a chuckle. A few days later in San Diego, I was served oj in the exact same glass at Broken Yolk which begs the question is this a southern California thing? The egg benedict was good. I browsed on my ipad while eating, checking the weather, my facebook page, etc. By the time I left, a few families were being seated. I walked backed south on Harbor towards the park entrances following a couple of families with earhats on as I crossed the street.
When I entered the plaza for the park entrances, it was just about 8am. On my left there were relatively long lines already forming for what I assumed was early entry for DCA.
On my right, there was also a line forming for DL but not as long.
At first, I mistakenly assumed that these were also for early entries as well so I stayed back not getting in a line while I took pictures. Shortly later, I realized that there shouldnt be early entries for Wednesday so I got in one of the lines and was about 15 people behind from the turnstiles. It's funny how when youre standing in line at Disney, time flies. I was just enjoying the warm sunshine while doing some people watching.
Disney Pumpkins!
Loved how they did her ribbon!
A little after 8:30am, they opened the gates and a stream of people walked through. I followed the other visitors, passing in front of the train station. I did miss seeing a rope drop show like the one at MK.
Main Street was covered and lined with its fall and Halloween decorations. A giant Mickey pumpkin stood in front of the flagpole.
Seeing Sleeping Beauty's Castle in the distance was just as magical as seeing Cinderella's Castle down Main Street.
I crossed over to the entrance of Tomorrowland where a rope held the crowd back. I made my way to the front and side of the rope. It was a little weird to see the Astro Orbitor so front and center by the entrance of Tomorrowland. At 9am, the rope dropped and there was a mad dash in. Nobody was outright running but there was definitely a push by the crowd with everyone walking fast. The mother of three kids who was pushing a stroller standing next to me right before the rope dropped, clipped her daughters heels as she rushed in. I made my way to the FP machines for Star Tours. Several people were already there rapidly inserting each park pass through the machines, then running off to Space Mountain which is where I was headed after I got my own FP for Star Tours. Even though I didnt know exactly where SM was located, all I had to do was follow the crowd!
I entered the queue which snaked around a bit before exiting to an outdoor portion of the queue where the roof of SM was seen.
It really wasnt that bad of a wait, probably only 10 minutes when I was seated. The guy seated next to me did not seem too amused about the ride or having to sit next to a stranger while his two female friends took the front seat. The ride was definitely much smoother than the one at MK. I had a blast riding it. They added some Halloween theming with projections of what can be best described as space ghosts. I dont know how I feel about this theming felt it was a little too hokey. But the coaster ride itself was great.
I walked over to Finding Nemo Submarine after exiting SM. I was excited about this since the last time I rode this was when it was called 20,000 leagues under the sea. I had no idea what this new theming was going to be like since I avoided looking up any pictures or videos.
Say it with me now - Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine!
We were directed into the submarine where each of us sat in one of the fold out seats and each passenger has his or her own window.
Just a little crammed with an awkward view of the Captain's rear.
At first, the ride started out just as how I remembered it from my childhood. There were reefs and giant clams to look at as the submarine moved forward.
Pick a Pearl!
But shortly into the ride, we entered a cave and the ride turned into one very similar to the one at The Seas Pavillion at Epcot where digital projections of characters from Nemo were superimposed onto the water scenery.
Mt. Wannahockaloogie!
I think it was longer than the one at Epcot and was fun to watch. A 4 year old boy was sitting next to me with his father and he was loving the ride. As the ride ended, he was busy recounting the highlights to his dad. Very cute.
Next Up: In a Galaxy Far Far Away......
They really seem to go all out for Halloween overlays there if they did something on Space Mountain! I didn't realize they did that. Although it sounds like it wasn't really successful, but I guess it's cool that they do more for Halloween than I realized.
And I too thought it was pretty cool that the stretching room is a real elevator in DL rather than the ceiling rising in WDW.
Finally!
