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

Ruby's job takes her places
once or twice a year.

I used to have that.

but usually to places within Canada.

That too.

Ruby hates travelling alone.
So she usually asks me to go with her.
And I am usually more than happy to oblige.
It's pretty much a win, win, win, win situation.

Wow! I have something definitely in common with her! Fran used to travel with me on stuff like that.

I didn't know it at the time,
but there was a big fringe benefit to that.

:hyper:

Oh... wait....
Sorry.
Like I said.
I didn't take notes.
That didn't actually happen, now that I think of it.

How did i know this?

You know. I could never work airport security.
At least not the person who looks at the X-rays.
There's no way I could keep my mouth shut.

OMG! I can't believe if a screener did this!

I find the restroom and ...
there's a wait?
What?
I'm a dude.
I don't wait for restrooms!

See? How do youlike that? Welcome to our world!

But just once... Once!
I'd like my bag to be first.
I would grab it and smugly look at everyone else
with their vaguely panicked expressions
("Did my bag make it???")
as I march off in triumph.

You know you want to do that.
Yes. Yes you do.

I would just like to make it to the baggage claim to SEE the first bag come up!

This is from the hotel website
(as is the above photo of the hotel)
but it's exactly what our room looked like
(well... before we messed it up, anyway.)
Different view, too.
Whatever.

Nice.

1. A lot of people smoke.... A lot.

:crazy2:

2. While there are a lot of smokers,
there are just as many people exercising.
Running, walking, bicycling, skateboarding, rollerblading.

Crazy people.

Finding Doris???? :lmao:
(With the voice of Anne Dorval!! (who?))

Google reveals she is evidently quite a celebrated actress in Quebec. :confused3

...while I settled on
a hot dog poutine.

Sounds kinda gross on the outset, but actually possibly rather tasty!


:confused3

The view inside:

Crickets.

(it was still early. It filled up as we sat.)

Now you tell me.

My spaghetti unfortunately was just okay.
I make much better.

I usually have that problem too.

It was starting to get late
and with the entire nightlife of Montreal
at our disposal...


We went back to the hotel and rented a movie.

Sounds about as lively as us, except we wouldn't bother renting the movie.

Okay...

"So I guess I can go to Disney with you."

:eek:





:banana:

Me: "There's a Disney 3 day cruise that leaves on the 16th.
It might be a good way to try it out. See if we like it."

She thought that was a good idea.

So we've gone from zero to HOLY CRAP in 24 hours.

Cool! So you're looking at the Dream?

Don't get too excited yet.
Not sure if we can find a flight to get us there before
the cruise departs.
Working on it.... working on it...

I would hope so. That's two months away!

Here's a recent photo of
two kitchen mooches pooches.

Cuties!
 
I'm going to go out on a limb
and guess it's because I'm going
in September and not October, right?

This is why you do so much better on the contests than I do. But actually mostly because you're going to get to be there BEFORE me. But I have some missions for you, should you accept them... And now, I also have to delay putting up some of the contest, perhaps, so you don't do too much recon.

But I already told you that I could get leave
for September... but October's booked up.

Rub it in.... LOL! Silly work.

BTW, I fully intend to comment on the update.... but was off to a drunken brawl, AKA neighborhood party, for a guy retiring. We ended up leaving after about 2 hours when everyone else couldn't speak without slurring or walk without stumbling. The tri-tip was fantastic though.
 
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Early flights are fine... on the way there.
Not so great on the way back!

Thank goodness our return leaves around 11 so we won't have to leave hotel till 8 probably

And how does the other half feel about that early rise?

Hello! Disney!
He's a pretty early riser when we need to be. He likes getting places early in the day.

I let him get up with an alarm and shower so I can lay in bed longer for a change.



Now that's interesting.
You only saw the kinky or tushie things, huh?
Totally missed the innocent book, did you?

There was a book! But who has time to read.
I wonder why that is, hmmmmmm????

Does this make me not innocent?

I wonder though how good their poutine is.
Some places are definitely sub-par.
McDonalds is trying to sell them.... :crazy2:


I'm hoping/sure they are from Canada but I'm sure there are different opinons on how it's done. I'll have to try and find out!

I'm glad it will be a couples only trip. Will it be the first time at Disney?
I'm excited about ours, like my ticker says, first time since honeymoon!


I know! There are people I'd love to meet in September and October.
Need to go twice.


Need to win the lottery first.

We'll make a deal. If I win the lottery, I'll make an extra trip in Sep. and if you do, you come in Oct.!
 

At this point you might as well make it a goal. Or a contest in its on. "How long can Pkondz keep his TR going". Guess in pages or in years.

:lmao: I love how you said "years".

Well, that's cold.

Canadian. Cold by definition.

Hey, I go into Montreal every day and I'm still feeling it!

Wait... nah, not really.

Fine, you get a pass.

:laughing: Thanks!

Honestly, I think I was just so burned out
that the thought of doing anything
just didn't sound appealing.

I actually thoroughly enjoyed going.


I remember those good old days. An empty house plus extra cash. Those were the days.

::yes:: Freedom!

Now my parents save money when they go on vacation, but my mom has to wonder how her flowers will survive without me around to water them. Thankfully, we're pretty sure the cat will make it.

Cats will do that.
Just out of spite.


And here you had me going.

:laughing: It could have happened.


Well.... probably not.


Rough handled by security vs. breezing by.

Yeah, I can see why you'd be confused.

I had a 50/50 shot at picking the right one.

I've done that once. Maybe not in that exact sequence, but my bag came out first *one* time. To be fair, that's because I was flying standby and didn't know I would get on the plane til they were boarding and called my name, but you know.

(In retrospect, I'm not sure it was worth it)

This is weird. I always see people on standby
and getting the "go ahead" at the last minute.

Not once did I ever wonder about their bags.


If her conference was at the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth, I'm definitely voting on the better rate.

Definitely. But I don't know where she went, actually.
Had to be close, though.


That being said, the Marriott is a pretty great, smackdown downtown hotel, so not shabby at all.

It was pretty nice.
No complaints and a great location.


I've never noticed it specifically as a lot

It was something we both noticed
and then when we got home,
we were chatting with friends who mentioned it too.


but one thing I do know is people do smoke a lot in the street, which I hate.

Yes!

It's like, "Ahhh... fresh air... nope!"


Though, they just banned this year smoking on restaurant terraces (which really should have been done years ago) so you know, small progress.

That's good.
I would never eat out on the terrace if
people were out there smoking.


Heeey I used to walk past that every day! That pointed building in the back is the bus station for buses headed to the south shore.

I'm getting ridiculously excited over familiar sights, I know.

Cool!

And... yes. You are getting excited.
And that makes me happy! :)


I have no idea what the logic is for dubbing names.

Nemo? That's cool. Keep it in French.

Marlin? Eeehh it'll pass.

Dory? Pffft what do you mean Dory? Dory's not a name. Let's go with Doris instead.

I wonder how Dory feels about that.


I guess the answer would be:
"Dory, how do you feel about that?"
"About what?"
"About them changing your name to Dory?"
"Who did?"
"The French."
"What about the French?"
"They changed your name."
"They did?"
"Yes. How do you feel about that?"
"About what?"...


I don't watch dubbed movies. They stoopid.

I watched (at Kay's insistence)
an anime series that was dubbed.
That was okay.
But a dubbed movie?

Not if I can help it.


But Anne Dorval is a Quebec actress :P Since, you know, with us being a primarily French speaking province, we have our own little music/tv show/movie industry. She's a pretty well known actress around here, so that would be a selling point for some.

200_s.gif

I did Google her and figured she was well known.
It just struck me, since it was made to seem like a major deal,
and I'd never even heard of her.


Well, there is a restaurant a little east of downtown called Poutineville. Where you customize your poutine. They have things like, smoked meat, bacon, steak...

I've had poutine with smoked meat from
Smoke's Poutinerie here in Winnipeg.
It was okay.

But usually I prefer it with just the fries, gravy and cheese.

The hotdog in there was fine, though.


But wieners do make a poutine pretty fab.

Yep. It wasn't bad.
Pretty darn good, actually.


I've been there! It's like a block away from my job! (Again, getting excited about familiar sights, don't mind me).

:laughing: No, no. You go right ahead and be excited.

I had their chicken alfredo. I cannot make better at home. So you know. I give them props :P (Though to be fair, I make a pretty lame chicken alfredo, so the bar's not that high)

:lmao: Such high praise!

Comparing work trips to Disney trips?!

:faint:

It's fine. I'm fine.

Deep breaths... deeeeep breaths.

Though, I guess not all of her work trips would be like little old Montreal which you weren't 'feeling' :P

They vary. Maybe next time it'll be someplace dull....
but I'll be more up for it.
Who knows!


You really are intent on that whole never ending TR, aren't you?

:laughing:

I already know that this one will end soon.
Provided the September trip happens (fingers crossed)
I won't tag that one onto here.


I watched the Dis video where they tried them.

First of all, I turn my nose on anything that's not fries, curds and gravy.

I don't care what anyone says, mushroom cream sauce and gruyere on fries is not a poutine.

No.
Just. No.

That is most definitely NOT poutine.


Secondly... I don't know what it is, they just can never seem to get the gravy right (and when it's not the gravy, it's the cheese. Or both :sad:)

Agreed. 100%.

Then again, I'm a bit of a poutine purist (yes, I heard it).

I heard it too.....
And I guess I am too!


The gravy they put on poutine in Ontario is wrong to me. We make it best :P

::yes:: I've had it here and other places...
and it's just not the same (or as good) as it is in Quebec.


That being said, I wouldn't necessarily not try it, but I doubt I'd go out of my way to try it.

I doubt I'd even try it.
Well... maybe for a TR.
Just to offer up my own opinion.

Something like that.


But at least they didn't put sliced cheese on it.

<shudder> Good God, I hope not!
(And yes.... seen it done. Gross.)
 
Yes!!!!!!!!

But wait, I leave the 21st.. Should you be there from the 19th, with or without your cruise?

My (I say My and not Our,
since I'm still trying to figure things out for now.)
My plan so far, is to fly in super late on the 16th.
Parks on the 17th and 18th.
(Probably Epcot on the 17th and MK + MNSSHP on the 18th.)
Cruise on the 19th.

Definitely want to meet you guys.
Lu too, if she's still around.
(Miss her.)


Gahhh I'm just excited that at least you'll have another trip report for me to read!!!

Interesting.
That's how I feel about yours!


Owww slap a service vest on them and bring them down please! ......... Plenty of people do it. :rolleyes1 :dogdance:

:laughing: Or come here and visit them.
 
I have yet to be brave enough to leave my 16 year old home alone overnight.

I think we did...
Maybe when the oldest was 17? Maybe 18.


For the day, yes, but not yet for the night. It's a big leap of faith that I'm not ready for yet.

It is a big leap.
But in this age of cell phones,
it's easy enough to get a hold of us.
And grandparents are 5 minutes away.


It happened to me once. The sun shone and angels sang (well, at least in my head).

I believe you.
(The part about hearing things in your head.)


It was just nice to not be standing there when the first bag comes out and it's not yours, your head for a split second panics and thinks oh no, that's not my bag, it didn't make it, I'm doomed...

Yes! Exactly.
If my bag's not the first one down,
I immediately start feeling vaguely uneasy.
And if it isn't down and the thing stops....
"Gah!!!.... Oh. Wait... It's starting again."


Looks nice, and a great location if you want to see a Habs game.

Noticed that did you?

That's strange. I was curious so I checked Google translator and according to that the translation of the English word Dory actually is Doris, as if the name Dory cannot exist in the French language. :confused3

Can you imagine?

"Bonjour, Doris!"
"No, actually it's Dory."
"Non, non, non. Eet eez Doris."
"No. I know my own name. It's Dory."
"Non. Eet eez impossible. Doris."
"Dory."
"Doris."
"DORY!"
"DORIS!!"...


Sounds just fine to me. I don't have poutine often, but I've always wondered what good, authentic Quebec poutine is like.

It's heaven.

Great news about your trip and potential cruise! Good luck with the planning.

Thanks!
 
I used to have that.

I remember you saying that!

That too.

Me too!

Wow! I have something definitely in common with her! Fran used to travel with me on stuff like that.

We're like twins!
Except you're prettier.


How did i know this?

Not sure. I was pretty subtle and all, ya know.


:rolleyes:

OMG! I can't believe if a screener did this!

:laughing: It would be funny!
As long as it wasn't your stuff that he/she was talking about.


See? How do youlike that? Welcome to our world!

Don't know how you do it.

With lots of dancing, I presume.


I would just like to make it to the baggage claim to SEE the first bag come up!

Yes, I suppose there is that.


Yup. Wasn't bad at all.


Yeah... Gross.
I held my breath a lot when I walked.


Crazy people.

::yes::

Google reveals she is evidently quite a celebrated actress in Quebec. :confused3

Yeah, I saw that as well.
Who knew?


Sounds kinda gross on the outset, but actually possibly rather tasty!

Oh, it's definitely tasty.
Oh, my. Definitely.



SWMBO = She Who Must Be Obeyed.

Crickets.

The restaurant was fairly full on the main floor,
and the patio was full.

It was a big place.


Now you tell me.

You didn't ask!!!

I usually have that problem too.

Maybe they just whip it up in bulk.
Don't know.
But finding a good Bolognese is tough.


Sounds about as lively as us, except we wouldn't bother renting the movie.

::yes::


::yes:: ::yes::

Cool! So you're looking at the Dream?

I have no idea!
It looks like we're leaning towards the 4 day cruise
leaving on the 19th now.
Whichever that one is.


I would hope so. That's two months away!

True.
But we have points with WestJet,
so we want to use them.



Agreed! :laughing:
 
This is why you do so much better on the contests than I do.

:laughing:
That one was pretty easy.

But actually mostly because you're going to get to be there BEFORE me.

This is funny.
I actually typed in
"Or maybe because I'm going before you are."

Then thought. "Nah. She'll be there a month later."


But I have some missions for you, should you accept them...

Ooohhh... I'm liking this already.
I need ideas!

(There are three... Three! PTRs that I'm going
to have to review (including yours.))


And now, I also have to delay putting up some of the contest, perhaps, so you don't do too much recon.

Oh, not to worry.
I won't have time!

It looks like we'll have a grand total of...


Wait for it...



Two days in the parks.


Rub it in.... LOL! Silly work.

October's tough for us anyway.
(Personal reasons.)

But I would love to see MNSSHP closer to Halloween.


BTW, I fully intend to comment on the update....

Yay!

but was off to a drunken brawl, AKA neighborhood party, for a guy retiring.

Sounds like fun!

We ended up leaving after about 2 hours when everyone else couldn't speak without slurring or walk without stumbling.

:laughing: Entertaining?

The tri-tip was fantastic though.

mmmmm.....
 
Thank goodness our return leaves around 11 so we won't have to leave hotel till 8 probably

That's better.
I'm looking at arriving ridiculously late...
but leaving in the afternoon to make up for it.


Hello! Disney!
He's a pretty early riser when we need to be. He likes getting places early in the day.
I let him get up with an alarm and shower so I can lay in bed longer for a change.

Lucky you.
First thing out of Ruby's mouth.
"I'm not doing rope drop or anything."


Yeah. I broke her last time.


There was a book! But who has time to read.

:laughing:

Does this make me not innocent?

It firmly cements your place in the
"not innocent" category.

(You were already there.)


I'm hoping/sure they are from Canada but I'm sure there are different opinons on how it's done. I'll have to try and find out!

There's the way they do it in Quebec...
and everything else is the wrong way.


I'm glad it will be a couples only trip. Will it be the first time at Disney?
I'm excited about ours, like my ticker says, first time since honeymoon!

This will be her... fifth?
I think she went when she graduated high school.
Went with me not long after we married.
Then we took the kids two times.


We'll make a deal. If I win the lottery, I'll make an extra trip in Sep. and if you do, you come in Oct.!

Deal!

Can you tell I'm having issues with muti-quoting!
I finally get chatty and have time...and something goes wrong!

Might not be you.
Sometimes the DIS acts up
and you get the dreaded
"This message cannot be found" message.
 
panic_zpsyeaj3gr7.gif


YEEESSSSSSSS!!!!!

We have to meet up! Have to! Have to! Have to!

(Plus... You could be the only DISer who knows what
Ruby looks like and does for a living.)


Yes!!! We could get some Food & Wine goodies from Canada and the UK to celebrate meeting each other :thumbsup2

@BibbitybobityLu get in on this please :grouphug:

Also I'm super intrigued about Ruby now... you're very cryptic :laughing:
 
:lmao: I love how you said "years".

Well, if you kept building up on it, could be plausible. You did start this thread ten months ago :P

Honestly, I think I was just so burned out
that the thought of doing anything
just didn't sound appealing.

I actually thoroughly enjoyed going.

Understandable at the rate you've been going. But it's good you ended up enjoying it, and it got you a few days of... well, not necessarily 100% rest, cause you know, being touristy, but still. Not work.

This is weird. I always see people on standby
and getting the "go ahead" at the last minute.

Not once did I ever wonder about their bags.

It's usually not that much of a problem. Only once or twice did my ticket actually print as 'standby' when I fly standby. If there's enough seats left on the plane that they know they'll get me on, I can pick a seat at time of check in and all, although of course if people had to end up being reprotected on a flight I'd still get booted off. But by the time you get to checking in and you have an assigned seat, check in agents just take your bag in.

If the plane's a tight fit though, then they'll put a standby sticker on it, and the baggage attendants will hold off putting the bag on the plane until they get the clear. Once we didn't make it on, so we had to go back out to baggage claim. I can't really remember what the logic is for establishing which station it goes on, though.

Yes!

It's like, "Ahhh... fresh air... nope!"

Amber gets super passive aggressive when we walk behind people who are smoking. Conversational tones directed at me, but loud enough to be heard by others.

"Why would you even smoke while walking in front of people?"

"It'd be great not to get another cancer"

That's good.
I would never eat out on the terrace if
people were out there smoking.

Pretty much. I hate when people compare the 'stigma' around smoking to other unhealthy decisions.

Like, you know what, if I want to eat crappy food or drink alcohol, yeah it's bad for me, but me only. Nobody's gonna get second hand liver damage.

But that's another debate :P

I watched (at Kay's insistence)
an anime series that was dubbed.
That was okay.
But a dubbed movie?

Not if I can help it.

Pretty much. I mean, obviously they're necessary. My mom doesn't speak English so she needs the dubbing, and before I learned English I watched all my movies dubbed too. But now that I can understand English, I can't stand the dubbing.

The worst part is when a specific actor will normally be dubbed by the same person in all of their movies, but then out of nowhere they're voiced by someone else. There's a movie in which Sandra Bullock is dubbed by the voice actress who normally dubs Nicole Kidman. Weird.

But usually I prefer it with just the fries, gravy and cheese.

::yes:: That is the best way to have it.

I already know that this one will end soon.
Provided the September trip happens (fingers crossed)
I won't tag that one onto here.

Well, okay then, it probably won't actually last years.

New TRs are always exciting though so that's good!

That is most definitely NOT poutine.

Thank you!

::yes:: I've had it here and other places...
and it's just not the same (or as good) as it is in Quebec.

:thumbsup2

I think it just follows the rule that everything is always better in its authentic form.
 
I have no idea!
It looks like we're leaning towards the 4 day cruise
leaving on the 19th now.
Whichever that one is.

Yeah that's the Dream. I'm glad you changed from 3 to 4 nights. The best thing about cruises is the day at sea! Ruby definitely wouldn't want to do any of the upcharge restaurants and even Royal Palace might be a bit too fancy for her. Feel free to check out my 75% All New Trip report where I posted the daily schedules and stuff. I'd be happy to make any suggestions. Also excursions are already being booked if you were considering any of those.
 
Absolutely loved your TR. the title caught my eye since DD and I will be taking our first solo trip soon. I totally get the teenage girls coming close to death but not having a clue. Thank you for an afternoon of chuckles and at times tears streaming down my cheeks from laughing so much (loved loved loved the Little Mermaid portion)
 
Well, if you kept building up on it, could be plausible. You did start this thread ten months ago :P

My longest was my Euro TR.
Almost exactly 11 months.

Let's beat that record!!!!



:faint:

Understandable at the rate you've been going. But it's good you ended up enjoying it, and it got you a few days of... well, not necessarily 100% rest, cause you know, being touristy, but still. Not work.

Not work is right.
Helps to recharge the batteries,
even if you're doing lots.

Which I actually wasn't.


It's usually not that much of a problem. Only once or twice did my ticket actually print as 'standby' when I fly standby. If there's enough seats left on the plane that they know they'll get me on, I can pick a seat at time of check in and all, although of course if people had to end up being reprotected on a flight I'd still get booted off. But by the time you get to checking in and you have an assigned seat, check in agents just take your bag in.

If the plane's a tight fit though, then they'll put a standby sticker on it, and the baggage attendants will hold off putting the bag on the plane until they get the clear. Once we didn't make it on, so we had to go back out to baggage claim. I can't really remember what the logic is for establishing which station it goes on, though.

Thanks for the explanation.
I've never done it... but would if given the chance.


Amber gets super passive aggressive when we walk behind people who are smoking. Conversational tones directed at me, but loud enough to be heard by others.

"Why would you even smoke while walking in front of people?"

"It'd be great not to get another cancer"

I'm thinking I really like Amber.

Pretty much. I hate when people compare the 'stigma' around smoking to other unhealthy decisions.

Like, you know what, if I want to eat crappy food or drink alcohol, yeah it's bad for me, but me only. Nobody's gonna get second hand liver damage.

But that's another debate :P

I totally get that.
You're smoking is making me sick.
(Either by cancer in the long run,
or just gross right now.)

How about I pick my nose
and wipe it off on your sleeve?

Don't like it?
Well neither do I!!!


Pretty much. I mean, obviously they're necessary. My mom doesn't speak English so she needs the dubbing, and before I learned English I watched all my movies dubbed too. But now that I can understand English, I can't stand the dubbing.

Yeah, sure. I get that.
But once you understand the language....

When I was a kid, we visited family in Germany.
We went to a movie.
Not dubbed.
Didn't understand a word.

Interesting experience.
Not necessarily a good one.


The worst part is when a specific actor will normally be dubbed by the same person in all of their movies, but then out of nowhere they're voiced by someone else. There's a movie in which Sandra Bullock is dubbed by the voice actress who normally dubs Nicole Kidman. Weird.

:laughing: Never thought of that.
That would be weird!


Well, okay then, it probably won't actually last years.

New TRs are always exciting though so that's good!

:goodvibes

I think it just follows the rule that everything is always better in its authentic form.

::yes::
 
Yeah that's the Dream. I'm glad you changed from 3 to 4 nights. The best thing about cruises is the day at sea!

Oh! See? I had no idea.
Why is that? More relaxing?


Ruby definitely wouldn't want to do any of the upcharge restaurants and even Royal Palace might be a bit too fancy for her.

Oh! Good to know.
I was already thinking about Palo...

And how to do it...


And whether I should or not........

Brain -> "boom"


Feel free to check out my 75% All New Trip report where I posted the daily schedules and stuff.

::yes:: I had planned to re-read it for tips etc.

I'd be happy to make any suggestions.

I'll probably take you up on that!

Also excursions are already being booked if you were considering any of those.

Whups!
Gotta book the thing first!
(Still a hurdle to jump first, though.)
 












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