A Trip full of Wonder and Magic and Wonderfulness! Sep '11 PTR!

[Sweet Pea UK]

I'm here! Really enjoying it so far!!

Sara xx

 

[PrincessInOz]

Lucky You! Free Tix for Tangled and Tron....

 

[franandaj]

I haven't seen Tron, but I loved Tangled!

 

[franandaj]

Is it a nice walk between sections, if it is "scenic" then I have no problem
By the end of the stay we plan to take it a bit more easy, so it will be nice to spend a lot of time at the resort, looking at the animals and using the pool.
It is a good idea about the distance to MK, I hadn't really thought of that. I think for things like ADR's located at the MK end of the resort I will plan to do them while at POR, and do Boma and Jiko while staying at AK. Thanks for the suggestion.

It's not a very scenic walk, there are bushes and sidewalk, but it's along a driveway or road. We only made the walk a couple times and I really wasn't paying much attention.

I think that's smart to plan on Boma & Jiko while you're staying out there, it's a very nice resort and those are both great restaurants. I also want to try Sanaa, I haven't eaten there yet.

 

[Microcell]

Subbing fellow September traveler here too!

I think San Francisco is BEAUTIFUL! LA... Not so much! It is a dirty town in my book. If you drive highway 101 it is by all accounts I have seen an 8 hour drive, but the views are spectacular! I suggest going north so you are on the side furthest from the ocean if you are nervous about driving!

Disneyland would be worth seeing in LA and maybe Gramins Chinese, but the issue we have with LA is that the traffic is so bad it takes a bit to get anywhere! I second flying to San Francisco.. and New York if you can, but if there is something to skip I think I would make it LA that gets passed over!

Looking forward to your report!

 

[QuirkyButterfly]

Subbing fellow September traveler here too!

I think San Francisco is BEAUTIFUL! LA... Not so much! It is a dirty town in my book. If you drive highway 101 it is by all accounts I have seen an 8 hour drive, but the views are spectacular! I suggest going north so you are on the side furthest from the ocean if you are nervous about driving!

Disneyland would be worth seeing in LA and maybe Gramins Chinese, but the issue we have with LA is that the traffic is so bad it takes a bit to get anywhere! I second flying to San Francisco.. and New York if you can, but if there is something to skip I think I would make it LA that gets passed over!

Looking forward to your report!

Thanks for joining in. Unfortunately we will not be going to New York this trip. Maybe next time (crosses fingers). Adam is really excited to see LA so we will be spending time there, he has a list of things he wants to do, and seeing as though I have really taken over this holiday with Disney it is only fair that he gets to control the LA side of things.
Do you have a PTR? I would love to follow along if you do.

 

[QuirkyButterfly]

Wow I am really behind on my TR. I am so sorry everyone, it has been kind of a hectic start to the year.

Lots of things to tell! Might start off with my reviews of Tangled and Tron, seeing as how I promised a report a whole month ago I am so ashamed with myself

Ok so we went to Bondi Junction to see both movies, I worked it out so that we would see Tron first because I wanted to end on a high with Tangled. There was about an hour in between the two movies so that we could get lunch.

Tron first up, This was tricky for me because I have never seen the first movie, I really only had minimal knowledge of that film. I am actually a bit of a geek, I like all of the nerdy niche franchises, so this movie should have appealed to me, but the trailers looked pretty average. The movie I am afraid was pretty average as well.

This is the summary from IMDB: Sam Flynn, the tech-savvy 27-year-old son of Kevin Flynn, looks into his father's disappearance and finds himself pulled into the same world of fierce programs and gladiatorial games where his father has been living for 20 years. Along with Kevin's loyal confidant, father and son embark on a life-and-death journey across a visually-stunning cyber universe that has become far more advanced and exceedingly dangerous.

The problem that I had was that it seemed to me they choose style over substance. So much effort went into the visual effects of the film and I think that because of that the script and the plot suffered. The whole film felt so sterile and cold, I understand that it could have been a design choice because the film is set in a virtual computer world. But it wasn't just the world, it was the acting as well, I just couldn't relate to the characters and as a result didn't feel anything for them. They have used special effects to make Jeff Bridges look 20 years younger, and to be honest it was just uncomfortable for me to watch, it looked like a dead person walking around pretending to be alive. I know that a lot of people have said that the best thing about the whole movie was the soundtrack, but I didn't like that either. Adam really liked the movie though so I am happy that it wasn't a complete wash.

So next up Tangled, while I didn't have high expectations for Tron I did for Tangled . I have been really excited to see this movie, since I heard they were making it. I remember when there was talk of Kristen Chenoweth being the voice of Rapunzel, that is what got me really excited. I love all things Wicked and I love her voice on the Wicked soundtrack. I was slightly disappointed when they decided to go with Mandy Moore (how wrong I was).

Summary: After receiving the healing powers from a magical flower, the baby Princess Rapunzel is kidnapped from the palace in the middle of the night by Mother Gothel. Mother Gothel knows that the flower's magical powers are now growing within the golden hair of Rapunzel, and to stay young, she must lock Rapunzel in her hidden tower. Rapunzel is now a teenager and her hair has grown to a length of 70-feet. The beautiful Rapunzel has been in the tower her entire life, and she is curious of the outside world. One day, the bandit Flynn Ryder scales the tower and is taken captive by Rapunzel. Rapunzel strikes a deal with the charming thief to act as her guide to travel to the place where the floating lights come from that she has seen every year on her birthday. Rapunzel is about to have the most exciting and magnificent journey of her life.

Lets just start by saying that I loved this movie. My emotions ran the full gamut, I laughed and cried (actually I cried 3 times not that I am counting ).

The character of Rapunzel is just pure joy to watch she is so innocent and naïve, that you can't help but love her. I really think that she is the spiritual successor of Ariel and its clear they she influenced this character a lot. This isn't a negative thing at all, in fact I think that it is a return to form for Disney. Mandy Moore has the perfect voice for this character, and give her such warmth. The computer animation was impressive, the style they have chosen works well in the world it is set. They haven't tried to make everything look photorealistic but have tried to emulate the hand drawn animations of the past. The supporting characters are all interesting, Flynn Rider being a more fleshed out character than previous love interests. The animal sidekicks are hilariously funny and don't grate on my nerves like some have in previous films. What really stood out for me was Mother Gothel the films antagonist, she was extremely evil. I don't think there has been another villain quite like her. She is incredibly manipulative, she constantly guilt trips Rapunzel and undercuts her self-confidence in order to keep her in the tower. While I don't think that the songs in this film are quite as good as some other Disney films, I don't think they let down the film at all and I have since listened to the soundtrack numerous times. To end this I just want to mention one scene, Flynn and Raunzel are in a boat watching the floating lanterns surround them.

This quite possibly could be the most beautiful scene ever created for an animated film, or live action film for that matter. I would actually recommend seeing this film just for this one scene if you are a fan of animation.

So that wraps up At the Movies with Quirkybutterfly. One interesting point Adam enjoyed Tron more than Rapunzel and took great delight teasing me everytime I cried. Oh well can't please everybody, and it was nice that we each saw a movie we really enjoyed .

I will post more updates later with the rest of the things that have happened since updating last (promise not to take so long ).

Night everyone.

 

[franandaj]

I haven't seen Tron, don't really care to, but I too LOVED Tangled! My favorite scene was when Rapunzel and Flynn meet, I laughed so hard. You only cried three times? I'm sure that I must have cried many more times than that, but I'm a sucker for a good love story.

Glad you're back on the boards and looking foward to hearing about the updates in your plans!

 

[PrincessInOz]

I really wanted to go see Tron...but what with Christmas and everything, it's been difficult to even find time to think..much less 2 hours to go see a flick.

I did manage to catch Tangled, and yup, loved it too.

Welcome back and here's to your full on planning!

 

[MamaJessie]

Everytime we go to spend some money on something we don't need I have started saying "We are making mickey cry" hopefully this guilt trips us into saving.

Ha! I love this. I am going to have to use variations on this with the family to help save vaca money.

 

[QuirkyButterfly]

Ha! I love this. I am going to have to use variations on this with the family to help save vaca money.

I have said it so many times a day I think it has become my catch phrase, Unfortunately Mickey has been crying a lot

 

[QuirkyButterfly]

One of the main reasons I haven't been on the boards lately is because I got myself in a car accident. It was stupid and it was completely my fault. A couple of weeks ago on the way to work I was stopped at an intersection waiting to go forward, my mind must have been elsewhere because when I saw a green light I went forward. Unfortunately it wasn't my green light it was a turning light and I went straight into the intersection between the cars that were going the other way. One hit me on the passenger side, it was so scary, the car spun around and I can still see in my mind the image of the other car coming for me . Luckily no one was injured, they were going normal speed and I was taking off from a stop so I wasn't going fast at all. We got the cars to the side of the road and called the police, tow trucks turned up to tow the cars away, but we had to wait for the police. We waited and waited and waited for the police to turn up and they did... 2 hours later. You can imagine how uncomfortable it was for us to be waiting together, although the other woman was nice about the whole thing and not upset, we weren't going to be lifelong friends. Anyway because both cars had to be towed away it means I got charged, for running a red light. I got a $344 fine, ouch. We both had insurance, so that was good as they are covering the damage, I just have to pay $600 excess, which is a bad but a lot better than if I didn't have it. It has cut into my Disney saving, but at least I am not in debt and have to worry about it because the money was already there (though originally planned for a much more fun use). I still don't have my car back, there is a delay waiting on a part. Hopefully I will get it in a few days. I am walking to the train station at the moment and getting the train to work and then walking from the train station to work. It is taking a lot longer each day commuting to and from work, and a lot of my Disney planning time has been cut down.

Adam was really wonderful about the whole thing. I called him as soon as it happened, he had just arrived at work on his motorcycle. He turned around and drove to where it happened to comfort me, we both took the day off work (I was in shock and there was no way I was going into work) we spent the day curled up on the couch watching TV, he even went out and got me lunch consisting of Chips, Chocolate and Ice Cream. He thought I needed comfort food, it was perfect, except I felt pretty sick after our pig out. It was so nice just to have him be there for me, a give out lots of hugs when I needed them. I am so lucky to have him .

If any proof was needed that I will not be driving in America this is it. We will stick to public transport and taxis (cabs).

More planning news next time, and a much happier post

 

[franandaj]

I'm so sorry to hear about the accident. Having been in several myself I know exactly how traumatic that can be and how you can see it over and over in your mind, usually in slow motion! I'm glad to hear that you were not hurt and while it is frustrating, it is only money. There are far more important things that you can't get back when they are gone so thankfully, you can always save more money. You can't do that with your health and other body parts.

Hang in there, and yes best you don't drive in America!

 

[QuirkyButterfly]

Quick Update:


I am getting my car back today



I am going by to collect it this morning before work. I am so happy

 

[PrincessInOz]

So sorry to hear about your car accident but I'm glad that you and the other driver are okay.

Fantastic news about getting your car back!

 

[QuirkyButterfly]

I received a few things in the mail recently:

The Unofficial Guide, I already know most of the stuff in here, but it is such a good reference guide, and a good quick way to find information. I also have Passporter on order as well, but that is taking longer to ship out, I really hope that I get it soon.

And most importantly this arrived:

My passport, an essential item if I plan on going to Disney . I realised that I had stupidly let my old passport lapse so I had to go trough the whole routine again. Adam still needs to get his, I hope he gets his soon, it will just a comfort to know he has one.

 

[PrincessInOz]

YAY for the passport. Now you're valid to travel...Don't forget ESTA!

 

[QuirkyButterfly]

One of my co-workers was in America over Christmas and she went to Disneyland, and she never even told me before she went! I knew she would be in America but not Disney. I found out afterwards. She was going with family skiing and for her Disney wasn't a priority so she didn't think of it

Anyway she had a great time even though they weren't really prepared and only managed to go on a few rides. What she enjoyed the most was the atmosphere and looking at the buildings, she couldn't get over how perfect everything looked. It was really funny listening to her talk, she kept getting names of thing wrong or forgetting completely! Like that one ride that you go in and they take you flying over different scenes. It was so cute, it was hard work to keep from correcting her on different things and not giggle every time she got something wrong.

It is funny to remember that not everyone is a Disney freak like us, compulsively researching everything and planning the smallest details out months in advance .

I am really glad that she had a great time, maybe I have a future convert in the wings now she has had a taste of Disney Magic. And she gave me this as a souvenir

She knows I love Disney and seeing as though my name is Alice she thought I would appreciate it. I love it and it was so sweet of her to think of me.

One last thing to say this post...

If there is anyone lurking out there please, please, please leave a comment even if it just to say hi . I really want to know who's reading. Don't be shy, .

 

[QuirkyButterfly]

YAY for the passport. Now you're valid to travel...Don't forget ESTA!

I wish Adam would get a move on and get his organised. ESTA is the next step, is it hard to get or is it really easy?

 

[franandaj]

Even with the lurkers and admirers....we're just lucky to have our little "community" of Disney Freaks that we amass on our PTRs and TRs. It's funny how we get a strange little community and everyone's is different even if we have a little bit of overlap between all our little communitiesl

That's whats great about the DIS. Keep it up more will join in and many will follow if you move on to a TR. I've found the longer you hang around the more followers you get as they will follow you from PTR to TR to PTR....