Canadian Buffoon's Disney With a Teen Vacation - 08/13 - The Wrap

[franandaj]

Does that help?

Clear as mud.

I had no idea about the struggles you guys have been having with Fran's Rheumatoid Arthritis.

This is just normal life. The real struggle was the Venous Ulcers a couple years ago, but I'm not getting into that whole can of worms. Open wounds just totally suck.

I'm so sorry that it's not only affecting you on a daily basis, but then you throw in the broken bones!
And then there's the whole cancelling of the trips.
Trips are wonderful. It's what keeps me going forward.
And then to have to cancel them?

It's not bad right now, having the right medication makes all the difference in the world. You know better living through modern science. Trips are wonderful. If I didn't have those to look forward to, I'm not sure how I would make it through the day.

$1,200 for meds? per month????

Well I guess that was before the deductible was met. In July it went down to $136 per month which is totally much more manageable.

And then the whole imuno-suppression issue

Yeah, that part sucks. That's something we think about every day on a daily basis.

Wow. You guys have been through a lot.
I don't even have words. I'm so sorry.
Thank you so much for sharing that with me/us.

The last 10 years have been quite a challenge. I'm not complaining or anything, we've also had our share of good times as well. Let's just say that my medical knowledge has increased by quite a bit without really wanting to know any of this stuff.

So you get your bum pinched now, too, huh?

No that was only 30 years ago as well. On the bus. In Rome.

I'm glad someone gets the right order!

I'll be back again to comment on the update. It's early in California and I need to go back and get my beauty sleep.

 

[KathyM2]

a far cry from the 15 minutes the app had told us

Ugh...not happy to hear that this app isn't accurate...sigh...I don't think I will use that then to make any decisions...

For dessert (free dining!) we got the Lime mousse and Chocolate mousse.

Sounds delish. But yeah...unless you are in free dining...that's a lot of food at each meal!

I mean... it's almost synonymous with Disney snacking, right?

Love those things!! Except when they fall of the stick half way through...uh not that it's happened to me or anything...

 

[Dentam]

Oh, that was so nice of you to include me in the contest - maybe I should actually start making guesses now! I was actually guessing (in my head) that the ride would be Dinosaur so now I have bruises from kicking myself for not verbalizing it! No worries, there's still time, and I only need 17 points to be in the lead now!

Sounds like a fun day so far! We were there in early September and the heat is no joke. Can't believe the woman with her baby powder though - wow. There are restrooms for these things, people!

EE was (yes, past tense) one of my favorite rides until our most recent trip. My dad and I felt very smart when we went through the single rider line with only a 5 minute wait. It was fun - woohoo! Until we decided to run through it again immediately after we got off. Let me tell you, just because you CAN ride it back to back when the line is nonexistent, does not mean that you SHOULD. As soon as we started going backwards the second time all I wanted was for it to be over already. My stomach took awhile to recover... and then we decided to go on Dinosaur after that. Needless to say I was done with rides for the remainder of the day. I think I'm getting old.

Someday I will eat at Flame Tree - it always smells so good walking by (when not recovering from motion sickness that is...)

Oh, and I love the pic of you guys on Dinosaur with Kay clutching your hand - priceless!

 

[Dentam]

What park are we going to? (This should be an easy one... if you've read my last TR.)
Where's our ADR?
We get a new room! Where is it?
(Partial points for Which building, Which side, Which floor (you got a hint on that one)
example 50s, Lake view, 3rd floor)

Uh oh... I guess I need to find your last TR...

Blindly guessing you're headed to the MK and your ADR is at BOG.

80's building, lake side, 3rd floor.

 

[Mrs T 2009]

Glad Kay woke up and with no complaints! I think she was probably a bit excited- maybe

While I am one to not wait in line long either, especially in heat, kay seems like my laid back self of waiting in lines patiently.. far cry from my 2 youngins' who DO NOT like waiting, let alone being too patient! haha

I've yet to eat at Flame tree. We always pass it when in AK, but rarely do we at in AK, except for a few times at Tusker House.

I'm not afraid to admit this:: even at my age, Dinosaur scares me! Always, never failing, I am so jumpy on that ride. I rarely do ride it, but as my 7yo is getting older, he wants to fairly ride with ma and dad, so I succumb to riding it every now and then. The hand holding was a cute photo op! she may be a teen, but she still needs her dad!


What park are we going to?:: DHS! Need to lead up to the dessert!
Where's our ADR? 50s prime time! ( I don't like the aspect of what wait staff do, but I keep thinking I need to eat here sooner than later since I keep reading how good the food and atmosphere is.
We get a new room! Where is it? 60s, pool view, top floor

I thought I'd have gotten brownie points for acknowledging your super moon photo!
not one to ask for them or plea, but i'm new to all this. Not fully hip to the goings on for points, yet

 

[franandaj]

So I got myself ready to go, then woke Kay up at 9:30.
And she didn't complain. She just got up.

Good for her! At least I was in the ballpark.

I paid for my wares, topped up my mug and headed back to the room.
I did go towards the elevators, but I took the stairs anyways.
It's still early in the game, folks.
Lots of energy.

You have more energy than me! I don't do the stairs unless there is an emergency!

I had brought a standard zoom
and this time I remembered to bring my wide zoom!
And I didn't want to be caught short,
so I also brought a telephoto zoom and a macro lens.

That's a lot of hardware!

Maybe 45 seconds wait time?
Let's just call it a minute, okay?

Uh-oh....perhaps I really need to revise my guess on the wait times.

I briefly explained how the tapstiles worked to Kay,
we swiped, got fingerprinted for the FBI and we were in!

Oh, come on. You know Disney doesn't share their information, especially with government agencies! They want all that marketing data for themselves.

As we approached the ride, I looked up at the posted wait times.
50 minutes!!!

no way.

Nope!
Nope. Nope. Nope.... nope!
I do not stand in line for nearly an hour.
Heck, I don't stand in line for half an hour!
That's why I do rope drop.
That's why I make FPs.
That's why I do single rider lines.

Exactly.

And it took its sweet time moving forward to the interior of the building.
You know... where they have air conditioning?

OMG. I've never had to wait outside of the building. The things you do for your kids.

I'm quite convinced that Dinosaurs may have become extinct
by standing in line in the heat until they died.

I think this is a possible theory.

I'm pretty sure that it's possible that while updating Facebook
and posting dino-selfies ("Look! A raptor's biting my leg! Isn't that cool?")
they became so involved that they began to die off by walking off of cliffs,
or in front of dino-busses, etc.

I like #1 better.

But you'll notice in the shot below, that she's holding my hand.

Still Daddy's little girl.
Melts my heart.

Isn't that sweet?

We got to Flame Tree right around 12:30 which was our scheduled time,
and Marie spotted us first, waved and came over.

Good job! Glad you had a nice meet.

It looked like she was farting puffy clouds.

Kay and I stood there for a few minutes in shock and mirth.
This was going to be a fun trip!

"Dad." She said. "I came to Disney with you. I don't want to ride by myself.
I want to ride with you!"

Awww, how sweet.

Thankfully, even when we were outside, they had these fans set up in the trees.
They helped a lot.

I've never even seen that part of the queue!

She didn't keep up with the drumming, but since then she has learned,
or is learning to play, two types of clarinet, the saxophone and the guitar.

I completely approve, especially the saxophone part. But what do you mean "two types of clarinet"? From my experience you've played one, you've played them all your fingers are just a little farther apart.

It wasn't long, however. Less than 5 minutes. Probably 1 or 2.
But... it's a train.

Yeah, I'm really thinkin' I need to revise that guestimate.

Pretty similar, don't you think??

It's so cute that you keep posting pictures of young Kay and current Kay.

We laughed about the frozen goat for the rest of the day.
Indeed, even after the trip.
Heck if you mention it, you might even get a bonus point or two.

Here's a third theory. The Dinosaurs were killed off by Frozen Goats falling from the sky.

I spotted some stairs leading down and decided to follow them.
It was shaded, so that was good enough for us.

That's one of my favorite spots at AK!

Disney Transportation Wait Time to date (3 busses): less than 1 minute.

Definitely rethinking that transportation estimate!

I'll have to be back to answer the questions. I have to do some research!

I just decided that this is my new favorite Trip Report. It was between you and Captain Oblivious, but since he doesn't actually give out prizes anymore, I will give the award to you!

 

[Dreamer & Wisher]

Enjoying your trip report, great story telling, lovely pictures, and funny too!

 

[TGM]

Great update! The frozen goat is very funny! (Not as funny as the new golf channel app commercial, but still pretty funny)

Here are my new guesses,

I think your next park is DHS, your ADR is at 50's PT, and your new room is 50's, lake view, 3rd floor.

 

[queenbetsey]

(wish they had an off topic with a happy face)
Sorry for the hijack ponzie but..... I have just a few minutes here but saw there was a new chapter and can't read it today normally I would be so bummed out but I do have a good excuse for not reading it yesterday or today, yesterday we had a baby shower for my youngest daughter. her husband was on his duty weekend at the local base. well when she got here she said she was feeling stiff etc. we almost had that shower become a birthday party! she won't deliver until today so we came home around midnight and are heading back to the hospital for the arrival of our next disser in the family
so play nice run amuck and take it easy on ponzie. I will be able to read this on my tablet at the hospital if there is time but stupid auto correct makes it hard to post (auto correct insists that Ponzi is a Pontiac)
have a great day
*I'm so excited I just can't hide I'm about to have a grandkid and I think I like it*

 

[jandlinz]

So sorry you had to go up and down from your room multiple times a day. I'm going to guess you get transferred to top floor, 60's, overlooking the pool. Kay was so cute on Dinosaur. I love that picture of her holding your hand. What a great memory to keep. Still daddy's little girl. The visual of the baby powder made me lol. How did you explain that one to Kay? It's so sweet that she wanted to ride with you and you visited the animals for her. I loved the goat picture. He was claiming his spot and wasn't budging for anyone. I didn't know goats were so stubborn. I'm going to guess you go to Studios. I want to say you eat at Prime Time, but thinking this trip is for Kay I'm going to say Sci Fi, since she loved it when she was younger (does that get me any bonus points even if I do guess wrong?).

 

[pkondz]

My answers will have to come in 2 parts, because I need to ponder (possibly research) which park you go to next, and therefore also, which ADR you have.

Smart girl.

But I'm guessing you got 50s, pool view, top floor.

Noted.

You know, they have frozen margaritas, frozen Mickey Bars, (and the FAR superior frozen Minnie bars), and even a new attraction called Frozen. Why not just stick with what works and add Frozen Goat? Seems legit. You were just doing up a soft opening for the new rage.

You may be onto something there!

I'm probably the only one who was actually excited when you said you had two more dinosaur extinction theories. My 6 year old son is a self proclaimed paleontologist so I've done a lot of dino research with him. I can't say I've heard of yours but I like them! T-Rexs wouldn't have been able to take selfies though. Short little arms.

I am so, so disappointed. T-Rexs had little arms? Couldn't take selfies?
Why do you think selfie sticks were invented????
Just for these circumstances of course!
As a matter of fact, back in the day they were called Rexie sticks.

(Still.... that was clever of you to think of that. )

LMAO at the baby powder scenario. Did you get a picture?

I wish! No, I didn't.
If I'd had some warning that it was going to happen,
maybe I could've. But I sure wasn't expecting that!!!

What day of the week were you at AK?

Saturday, August 22nd.

I have to admit I cringed when I read that you were getting in a 50 minute dinosaur line.

You cringed!

It was worth it for the great picture you got though.

Never thought of it that way... but, yeah.
That does make it worth it.
Especially now as I'm sitting here in my environmentally controlled setting.

I haven't seen them use the outdoor portion of Everest since it first opened.

Consider yourself lucky.
And hopefully, I'll never see it again.

I think the worst part of waiting in stand by is seeing all the people entering with FP and cutting in front of you so that you don't really know how long your wait is.

I want to be one of those people passing by the poor slobs in line!

Loved the comparison of Kay's pictures from when she was little, so cute!

: Thanks! I was hoping someone would comment on that!

I'm too tired to think about the bonus questions now so I'll post later. For now.. FROZEN GOAT!!!!

Noted!

 

[pkondz]

So no trudging for you this day then? I’m surprised you didn’t frolic over though – far more fun than skipping

Frolic? Frolic?? Frolic?!?!?!?
Who do you think I am???
Do you really, truly believe that I... moi... would frolic???

I reserve that for things like getting to go on HM or BTMRR or PP.

Another reason- on the whole, the food at Everything Pop is terrible.

Ah. Well, we didn't really have an opportunity to eat there.
Kinda glad I didn't now.

If in doubt go purple – all girls love purple!

Now I know what to get my harem girls for Christmas!

The buses at Pop are awesome. I never waited more than 5 or so minutes the entire week I was there.

Wow! That's pretty darned good bus luck there!

Aww bonus dad points for you!

Sweet!

Gorgeous photo – even if the ride itself is terrible.

Yes, I thought of you when I was writing about how Kay liked it so much.

I’m glad I’m not reading this at work today or everyone would have heard me guffawing. That’s right not just lolling but full on guffawing! I probably wouldn’t have been as restrained as you and Kay though and would have burst out laughing on the spot.

:laughin: I think if we weren't so close to her we might've burst out laughing.
But we didn't want to embarrass her.
Maybe we wouldn't have... I mean, she already did that in public!

Double extra bonus dad points for you.

Terrific! I can't wait to see what I might win!
I think I've got a lock on this thing!

Tell Kay I can relate – I love getting the red card – makes me feel super powerful.

Okay, will do!

I’ll mention it and show you some real ones – how many points is that worth?

One never really knows.

I’m one of those people who didn’t enjoy it. Give me a Dole Whip anyday.

Not an ice cream on a blisteringly hot and muggy day kinda girl, huh?
(I'll take the Dole Whip too, actually. But don't tell anyone I said so!)

I wasn’t sure on the Candian postal and quarantine service. I thought if I sent a package solely addressed to Pkondz containing animals I might get in trouble

You mean you wouldn't risk a fine and/or incarceration for me???

1. Epcot (because Japan is your favourite) but it could also be Magic Kindgom (for the Haunted Mansion and Ariel) – this is tough – I’ll stick with Epcot
2. Via Napoli (because that would be an awesome use of free dining!)
3. I’m guessing you get the room that I left the night before – 50’s building (#2), semi lake view (i.e you can see it from the walkway outside the door) and top floor (2426 I believe?)

Noted.

 

[Mac Brew]

Hi Pkondz

What can we do with a FROZEN GOAT in extreme hot weather? Why one should strap a FROZEN GOAT to ones back thus will have a cooling effect which can be even more efficient by attaching a fan to one’s neck and pointing it over the FROZEN GOAT and thus directing the cooling air which was created by blowing the hot air over the goat and converting it into cold air over ones torso. The frozen goat should be replaced with another one when it thawed out and repeated until you arrived back home where there is no need for FROZEN GOATS but a warm goat could be handy to have in your winter time. Great update.

 

[pkondz]

This is just normal life. The real struggle was the Venous Ulcers a couple years ago, but I'm not getting into that whole can of worms. Open wounds just totally suck.

That sounds terrible! Sounds like that (at least) is behind you guys?

It's not bad right now, having the right medication makes all the difference in the world.

Glad to hear that!

Trips are wonderful. If I didn't have those to look forward to, I'm not sure how I would make it through the day.

I'm usually on a trip when I start thinking of the next one!

Well I guess that was before the deductible was met. In July it went down to $136 per month which is totally much more manageable.

Only about ten times less? That's it?

Yeah $136 sounds just a wee bit better than $1,200.

The last 10 years have been quite a challenge. I'm not complaining or anything, we've also had our share of good times as well. Let's just say that my medical knowledge has increased by quite a bit without really wanting to know any of this stuff.

I've heard that quite a bit.
I've also heard that it's the only way to get good medical care for yourself (or those close to you.)
Proves the adage, if you want something done well, do it yourself.

No that was only 30 years ago as well. On the bus. In Rome.

So.... You need to get your butt over to Italy to relive the good times!

I'll be back again to comment on the update. It's early in California and I need to go back and get my beauty sleep.

I shall await your comments with great anticipation.

 

[pkondz]

Ugh...not happy to hear that this app isn't accurate...sigh...I don't think I will use that then to make any decisions...

I should've used "Lines" but didn't.
And I even have it already installed.

There's another one that I've heard good things about...
but I can't remember what it's called!!

Sounds delish. But yeah...unless you are in free dining...that's a lot of food at each meal!

We wouldn't normally eat dessert at lunch time.
But.... Geez! The stuff's right there... and free!

Love those things!! Except when they fall of the stick half way through...uh not that it's happened to me or anything...

No. Of course not. That would never happen.

 

[Mac Brew]

Hi Pkondz

Your next port of call is Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The meal was at the 50”s Prime time café.

Your room is on the third floor in the 60”s section overlooking The HIPPY Dippy pool

 

[pkondz]

Oh, that was so nice of you to include me in the contest - maybe I should actually start making guesses now!

Couldn't hurt... you may actually win!

I was actually guessing (in my head) that the ride would be Dinosaur so now I have bruises from kicking myself for not verbalizing it!

Sorry about that.
But now that you're playing, you can stop kicking.

No worries, there's still time, and I only need 17 points to be in the lead now!

You could catch up pretty quick with the right answers...
and some judicious sucking up.

Sounds like a fun day so far! We were there in early September and the heat is no joke. Can't believe the woman with her baby powder though - wow. There are restrooms for these things, people!

That's what I thought!
Really? You couldn't walk just a little farther to do that in a restroom?

I guess not!

EE was (yes, past tense) one of my favorite rides until our most recent trip. My dad and I felt very smart when we went through the single rider line with only a 5 minute wait. It was fun - woohoo! Until we decided to run through it again immediately after we got off. Let me tell you, just because you CAN ride it back to back when the line is nonexistent, does not mean that you SHOULD. As soon as we started going backwards the second time all I wanted was for it to be over already.

Yeah, I can see how that could happen. I really can.
I rode it twice back to back in February and felt it a bit.
I'm sure if I'd gone three times, I would've felt lousy.

My stomach took awhile to recover... and then we decided to go on Dinosaur after that.

Sure. Because when your feeling a little woozy,
the best thing is to go on the jerkiest ride in the park!

Needless to say I was done with rides for the remainder of the day. I think I'm getting old.

Nah. It's just your mind telling you that there are other things to see and do.

Someday I will eat at Flame Tree - it always smells so good walking by (when not recovering from motion sickness that is...)

I kept reading TRs with people going there and enjoying it.
I just had to try it.
And it was not bad at all for a QS restaurant.

Oh, and I love the pic of you guys on Dinosaur with Kay clutching your hand - priceless!

: I was very pleased with it myself!
And to think I almost didn't download it!

Uh oh... I guess I need to find your last TR...

Blindly guessing you're headed to the MK and your ADR is at BOG.

80's building, lake side, 3rd floor.

Noted. And the last TR is in my siggie.
Might want to take a peak at my first day in the parks.

 

[pkondz]

Glad Kay woke up and with no complaints! I think she was probably a bit excited- maybe

Oh.... maybe a little....

While I am one to not wait in line long either, especially in heat, kay seems like my laid back self of waiting in lines patiently.. far cry from my 2 youngins' who DO NOT like waiting, let alone being too patient! haha

She never once complained about a long line.
Just took it in stride.
I could learn from her.
Or she could learn from me, get up early and ride everything with no rides.

Just a thought.

I've yet to eat at Flame tree. We always pass it when in AK, but rarely do we at in AK, except for a few times at Tusker House.

Well, there you go. I've never eaten at Tusker House.
(But it's on the list.)

I'm not afraid to admit this:: even at my age, Dinosaur scares me! Always, never failing, I am so jumpy on that ride. I rarely do ride it, but as my 7yo is getting older, he wants to fairly ride with ma and dad, so I succumb to riding it every now and then.

I want to ride it with you.
That'd be fun.

For me... not so much for you.

The hand holding was a cute photo op! she may be a teen, but she still needs her dad!

What park are we going to?:: DHS! Need to lead up to the dessert!
Where's our ADR? 50s prime time! ( I don't like the aspect of what wait staff do, but I keep thinking I need to eat here sooner than later since I keep reading how good the food and atmosphere is.
We get a new room! Where is it? 60s, pool view, top floor

Noted.

I thought I'd have gotten brownie points for acknowledging your super moon photo!
not one to ask for them or plea, but i'm new to all this. Not fully hip to the goings on for points, yet

Okay, I'll give you some points.
Not for the moon comment... because you also said something along the lines of "Pfftt..."

But since you asked so nicely (by sort of not asking) I'll slip you a few under the table.

 

[pkondz]

Good for her! At least I was in the ballpark.

You have more energy than me! I don't do the stairs unless there is an emergency!

It was still early in the trip.
Amazing what a night's sleep will do.

That's a lot of hardware!

I was so pleased to be lugging it around the parks all day...

Uh-oh....perhaps I really need to revise my guess on the wait times.

I didn't include the train ride in my wait times.
I decided that it was more "ride" and less "transportation".

Oh, come on. You know Disney doesn't share their information, especially with government agencies! They want all that marketing data for themselves.

Good point.

They might sell their data...
But they would never share it.

no way.

Yep. Pretty much how I felt about it.

OMG. I've never had to wait outside of the building. The things you do for your kids.

Yeah. I think the next time what I'll do for her is leave her at home.

I think this is a possible theory.

I'm pretty confident with that one.

I like #1 better.

Oh? I give you exhibit "A".

Isn't that sweet?

:

Good job! Glad you had a nice meet.

It was really nice meeting up with them again.
Even if it was brief.

Yup! That pretty much sums it up!

Awww, how sweet.

I have to admit.
She was right.

There. I said it.

I've never even seen that part of the queue!

And with luck... you never will!

I completely approve, especially the saxophone part. But what do you mean "two types of clarinet"? From my experience you've played one, you've played them all your fingers are just a little farther apart.

Ah, I should have clarified.
She started with the D flat clarinet, then picked up the guitar.
Afterwards she wanted to join the school Jazz band so she picked up the Sax.
This year, she wanted to also include an E flat clarinet in her repertoire.
So now she's doing that too.

I'm more pleased that she's showing interest and wanting to try
more instruments.

Yeah, I'm really thinkin' I need to revise that guestimate.

You have time, if you want to.

It's so cute that you keep posting pictures of young Kay and current Kay.

: Thanks!

Here's a third theory. The Dinosaurs were killed off by Frozen Goats falling from the sky.

Oooohhhh... That would explain why there's so many of them around, too.
After they thawed out, I mean.

That's one of my favorite spots at AK!

No way!

Definitely rethinking that transportation estimate!

Not saying you should or shouldn't, but you can if you want to.

I'll have to be back to answer the questions. I have to do some research!

Noted.

I just decided that this is my new favorite Trip Report. It was between you and Captain Oblivious, but since he doesn't actually give out prizes anymore, I will give the award to you!

: Wow! Thanks!
Whadya know? Bribery works!
Huh!

 

[pkondz]

Still have a few more shout-outs to do but they'll have to wait til later.