TLinden16
Scotty and Ray at Jelly Rolls are the best!
- Joined
- Dec 20, 2002
- Messages
- 16,243
Day 1--Monday, November 28, 2005
I left my house at 8:05 a.m. to take public transportation to Logan airport for my 10:40 flight to Orlando. I made excellent time getting to the airport--I made it there in just about an hour on two buses and a train. I was checked in and browsing around the airport shops by about 9:30.
My flight to Orlando took off right on time at 10:40. I lucked out again, and had an empty seat next to me again--almost ever flight Ive taken on JetBlue, Ive had one of the few empty seats on the plane next to me. My flight arrived at Orlando International Airport a little early at 1:30 p.m.
After a quick pit stop, I headed to check in for Magical Express. At first I stopped in the line for the buses, but was quickly directed to the other line to check in. There werent too many people in the line, and I was in line for a bus within 10 minutes. I only had to wait a few minutes before they started loading the bus. I was a bit surprised when they took two lines of people to the bus--the bus would be making stops at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, Coronado Springs, the Caribbean Beach Resort, the Boardwalk, the Yacht Club, and the Beach Club. I had thought that Magical Express was set up so that you only had to stop at no more than three resorts. So, needless to say, I was very surprised to see them load so many people on the bus. I began hoping that I would be one of the first stops, and thankfully, the Boardwalk was the second stop on the route.
I arrived at the Boardwalk around 3:00 p.m., and checked into my studio in the Boardwalk Villas. I was happy to hear that my room was available. I was in room 4085, a standard studio overlooking the main entrance to the Boardwalk. My room was quite nice. It showed little signs of wear and tear, and the bed was extremely comfortable.
After getting settled in the room, I grabbed a slice of pizza at the pizza window on the Boardwalk, and noted that they took the meatball subs off the menu there. I just wanted to grab a light bite to tide me over until my ADR for Hollywood & Vine and the Fantasmic dinner package. I wasnt overly impressed by the slice of pizza I got. It was very bland.
I then started walking towards Disney/MGM Studios. My first stop was the Tower of Terror, where I grabbed a fast pass. I then hopped in line for the Rock N Roller Coaster. By the time I got off the Rock N Roller Coaster, my fast pass time for the Tower of Terror was available, so I headed over there to take a spin. I then headed over to the Great Movie Ride.
It was then time to check in for my ADR for Hollywood and Vine. I arrived about 15 minutes early, and I was told I would be seated within 15 minutes. A half hour later, I was still waiting. I went to see when I would be seated, and the hostess told me it would be 15-20 after my ADR time. I was finally seated at 5:25--50 minutes after I checked in and 25 minutes after my ADR time.
My dinner at Hollywood and Vine was very good for a buffet. There were lots of excellent choices, and all of the food was hot and fresh. I have been there many times, and Ive always had pretty good meals there.
After dinner, it was starting to rain. I walked around and browsed in the shops before heading to Fantasmic. I have the worst luck with the dinner package. It always seems to rain when I do the Fantasmic dinner package. The rain was coming down harder and harder as time passed. Finally, I decided that I couldnt wait in the rain any longer, as I had been fighting off a nasty cough for about a week. I just didnt want to risk getting sick so early in my trip. So I headed out of Fantasmic. They wound up doing a shortened five minute version of Fantasmic after I left, but I was halfway back to the Boardwalk by then.
After changing out of my wet clothes, I headed down to my true home away from home on Disney property--Jellyrolls. My beloved Scotty and Ray were playing beginning at 8:00 that evening, and I made it into the bar just a few minutes before they hit the stage. I was really looking forward to hearing Scotty sing again--he had been out of work due to a vocal problem for three months, and I needed to hear him sing again. I had been there his last night in July before he was out of work, and this was the first time for me to hear him since he was back. I thought he sounded fantastic--I was afraid that he wouldnt be the same vocally, or would need to hold back a bit, but he was amazing.
My DIS friends CrazyBoutDisney and her husband DaveH arrived at the bar around 8:30, and we all enjoyed watching Scotty and Ray play. Tommy and Michael were the other piano players that night, and we had a lot of fun watching them as well.
CrazyBoutDisney and DaveH left somewhere around midnight, but I had to stay at least until Scotty and Ray were done playing for the night. I figured Id leave around 1:00, but the bar was pretty empty, and I felt bad about leaving Michael and Tommy so few people to sing to, so I decided to stay until closing.
I made it back to my room, and was in bed by 2:00. Despite the rain, it was a good way to start my trip.
I left my house at 8:05 a.m. to take public transportation to Logan airport for my 10:40 flight to Orlando. I made excellent time getting to the airport--I made it there in just about an hour on two buses and a train. I was checked in and browsing around the airport shops by about 9:30.
My flight to Orlando took off right on time at 10:40. I lucked out again, and had an empty seat next to me again--almost ever flight Ive taken on JetBlue, Ive had one of the few empty seats on the plane next to me. My flight arrived at Orlando International Airport a little early at 1:30 p.m.
After a quick pit stop, I headed to check in for Magical Express. At first I stopped in the line for the buses, but was quickly directed to the other line to check in. There werent too many people in the line, and I was in line for a bus within 10 minutes. I only had to wait a few minutes before they started loading the bus. I was a bit surprised when they took two lines of people to the bus--the bus would be making stops at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, Coronado Springs, the Caribbean Beach Resort, the Boardwalk, the Yacht Club, and the Beach Club. I had thought that Magical Express was set up so that you only had to stop at no more than three resorts. So, needless to say, I was very surprised to see them load so many people on the bus. I began hoping that I would be one of the first stops, and thankfully, the Boardwalk was the second stop on the route.
I arrived at the Boardwalk around 3:00 p.m., and checked into my studio in the Boardwalk Villas. I was happy to hear that my room was available. I was in room 4085, a standard studio overlooking the main entrance to the Boardwalk. My room was quite nice. It showed little signs of wear and tear, and the bed was extremely comfortable.
After getting settled in the room, I grabbed a slice of pizza at the pizza window on the Boardwalk, and noted that they took the meatball subs off the menu there. I just wanted to grab a light bite to tide me over until my ADR for Hollywood & Vine and the Fantasmic dinner package. I wasnt overly impressed by the slice of pizza I got. It was very bland.
I then started walking towards Disney/MGM Studios. My first stop was the Tower of Terror, where I grabbed a fast pass. I then hopped in line for the Rock N Roller Coaster. By the time I got off the Rock N Roller Coaster, my fast pass time for the Tower of Terror was available, so I headed over there to take a spin. I then headed over to the Great Movie Ride.
It was then time to check in for my ADR for Hollywood and Vine. I arrived about 15 minutes early, and I was told I would be seated within 15 minutes. A half hour later, I was still waiting. I went to see when I would be seated, and the hostess told me it would be 15-20 after my ADR time. I was finally seated at 5:25--50 minutes after I checked in and 25 minutes after my ADR time.
My dinner at Hollywood and Vine was very good for a buffet. There were lots of excellent choices, and all of the food was hot and fresh. I have been there many times, and Ive always had pretty good meals there.
After dinner, it was starting to rain. I walked around and browsed in the shops before heading to Fantasmic. I have the worst luck with the dinner package. It always seems to rain when I do the Fantasmic dinner package. The rain was coming down harder and harder as time passed. Finally, I decided that I couldnt wait in the rain any longer, as I had been fighting off a nasty cough for about a week. I just didnt want to risk getting sick so early in my trip. So I headed out of Fantasmic. They wound up doing a shortened five minute version of Fantasmic after I left, but I was halfway back to the Boardwalk by then.
After changing out of my wet clothes, I headed down to my true home away from home on Disney property--Jellyrolls. My beloved Scotty and Ray were playing beginning at 8:00 that evening, and I made it into the bar just a few minutes before they hit the stage. I was really looking forward to hearing Scotty sing again--he had been out of work due to a vocal problem for three months, and I needed to hear him sing again. I had been there his last night in July before he was out of work, and this was the first time for me to hear him since he was back. I thought he sounded fantastic--I was afraid that he wouldnt be the same vocally, or would need to hold back a bit, but he was amazing.
My DIS friends CrazyBoutDisney and her husband DaveH arrived at the bar around 8:30, and we all enjoyed watching Scotty and Ray play. Tommy and Michael were the other piano players that night, and we had a lot of fun watching them as well.
CrazyBoutDisney and DaveH left somewhere around midnight, but I had to stay at least until Scotty and Ray were done playing for the night. I figured Id leave around 1:00, but the bar was pretty empty, and I felt bad about leaving Michael and Tommy so few people to sing to, so I decided to stay until closing.
I made it back to my room, and was in bed by 2:00. Despite the rain, it was a good way to start my trip.
