Canadian Buffoon's Solo Disney Vacation - Update 07/08! pp99 - Here today gone tomorrow

[afwdwfan]

As long as they weren't sharks with frickin' laser beams on their heads.

If @pkondz doesn't award bonus points for this one, I'll award you totally fake, useless bonus points, because there is nothing cooler than sharks with frickin' laser beams.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

If @pkondz doesn't award bonus points for this one, I'll award you totally fake, useless bonus points, because there is nothing cooler than sharks with frickin' laser beams.

Agreed. And you should have plenty of fake, useless bonus points left over from one of my movie quote contests.

 

[ddstratton]

Wow -- that sounds like an absolutely amazing experience! So much fun, and you got to spread some pixie dust, too!

 

[Sandy Mouse]

So much so, that I must've bugged my folks to get me a dive mask.
I don't remember... but I do remember getting one.

(I suppose a Mardi Gras mask would've been cool too,
but possibly not as practical for keeping water out of one's eyes.)

Yes a Mardi Gras mask would have been really cool. If you wear it under water and it will fall apart fast leaving you with feathers, glitter and sequins in your eyes.

Possibly the first movies I ever saw were in our Church basement.
We may not have even had a TV at that time.
(Can you imagine???)

The Congregational Church near the elementary school I attended showed movies in its basement every or maybe every other Friday, I think. It was always packed.

When I was in grade 12, one of my high-school teachers
(a certified dive instructor) offered to teach a dive class
to anyone who wanted to learn.
I think there was about a dozen or so of us.

That was a really nice little bonus. It's too bad more students didn't take advantage of it. Maybe the other kids assumed since Ralphie was in the class, things were going to happen, and not necessarily good things.

I never did figure out exactly what species of sharks were in the aquarium.
Or, more importantly, what species were in the aquarium... with me!
But... I reasoned... Disney is hyper sensitive about safety.
I figured they wouldn't put us in with overly aggressive or dangerous sharks.

Right. Ruby knows where in the insurance policy is kept?

You may recall from the previous chapter
that the sharks had already been fed today.
Believe me when I tell you that I was very pleased when I heard that.
Quite pleased.

I'll bet you were. Are you sure sharks don't like to grab a quick snack sometimes? Does anybody here know?

I'm not in the best of shape right now,
owing to my back not allowing me to exercise much.
And possibly to a healthy appetite, too!

You skipped the steak at lunch, but then you had the double dessert.

There were always little kids, at the tables a little farther back, waving like crazy.
I tried to make sure I waved back at all of them.

Who knows? Maybe I inspired some little boy or girl to try scuba for themselves.
If I can instill a sense of adventure in some child, I can be happy with that thought.

Brings a tear to your eye, doesn't it?

If I'd been wading in the ocean and saw that, I'd be completely done for the day.
Possibly forever.

Bonus questions!

1. I did do one more attraction that evening.
What was the next attraction that I visited?

2. I did see a nighttime show that night,
did I stay for Illuminations? Or go to another park?
(Wishes? Fantasmic!?)

3. At whichever park I happen to end the night...
how long do I wait for the bus?

1. I'm going to go with Spaceship Earth.

2. Illuminations. There simply wasn't time for park hopping, especially before Fantasmic.

3. Epcot. See #2 above.
edited to add: you waited 20 minutes.

 

[cinderkelly]

The true test was... well, the open water test.
At West Hawk Lake.
I loved that lake... even though it had tried to kill me.
Nevertheless, I was a little nervous about diving for the first time,
outside of the confines of a nice critter-free pool.
I passed and got my certificate.

Darn those murderous lakes! Stay away from them

but I don't remember Melissa saying that.
She might have. I just don't remember it.
I wasn't planning on grabbing Dory anyway.

I probably would have been the rebel that threw caution to the wind and at least reached out to touch a fish. Definately not a shark, but something safe like a grouper or something.
[QUOTE="pkondz, post: 53696400, member: 142037"
But I probably spent most (oh, about 85-90%) of my time...


Interacting with children.



It was So. Much. Fun!!!
[/QUOTE]

I LOVE this!!!

Bonus questions:
1. The Seas with Nemo & friends, 'cuz I'm a geek and would want to see where I had just been from the other side of the glass
2. Wishes, because well, what better way to end a spectacular day!
3. No wait for the bus because you took the monorail to MK

 

[pkondz]

I find it a tad ironic that it is apparently safer to swim with the sharks than it is the dolphins

I never even thought of that!

But the truth may surprise you.
While sharks have all the bad press, dolphins can be far more dangerous.
Dolphins kill sharks.
And there have been incidents where dolphins have injured people.

We wear 1/4inch thick head to toe neoprene wet suits.
Dry suits if you can afford one.
Still, everyone comes out of the water with lips blue from the cold.

You probably made their day!

I hope so!

A favorite game of Little Miss's when one of us is in the shower.

So you're familiar with it then.

I thought I noticed that in the video!

Nice catch! I didn't think anyone would.

I'm going to go with Fantasmic as your last attraction. ( or do you not count the night shows as an attraction? if that's the case I will say TOT on the way to Fantasmic. )

I'll go with hopped to Studios and saw Fantasmic.

20 minutes.

Check.

 

[pkondz]

And somehow I seem to still lose them with the new Dis and it's auto save system from time to time.

Well, sure. But that's because the DIS hates you.

So what you're saying... is that gold is significantly more important than your fear for your own life.

Let's just say that I'm willing to put up with some risk for gold.

Now my children... Yeah, gold is more important.

So they're saying the dolphins are more dangerous than the sharks???? That's just crazy talk!

I just mentioned this.
Truth is that the dolphins actually are more dangerous than the sharks.

The sharks could take a chunk out of you and leave you bleeding and in need of medical attention.
A dolphin on the other hand could kill you outright if it wanted to.

I was kind of thinking 78 doesn't sound that bad. I've swam in the ocean... in February. Not the smartest thing I've ever done. But I'd have welcomed 78F.

I'm surprised you had a lake that had surface temperatures that warm though. I figured that in Canada, you'd have to bust a hole in the ice to find a spot to swim?

Funny. Very funny.

Where's that deduct points button??
And you just pulled even with Carrie for first place, too!

Actually, there are some people who do just that.
My instructor for one has done it.

I for one... will never do that.

Ever.

Well, duh! Would you stick your arm in a wood chipper?

"Sure! That's how you clear the jams!" Said one-armed-Sam.

That's just awesome!

Well, you know, because that's what they do. Swim and eat. Better to catch one in swimming mode than feeding mode.

That's true! Swimming away mode is even better.

Does he play fetch? Roll over so you can scratch his belly?

That's one of those mysteries of life that I will not attempt to discover.

And I was reading the last update trying to figure out what on Earth that little story had to do with a tour... When it hit me. He's gonna provide underwater entertainment.

Ah. So you figured it out? Or weren't sure just what I was going to do?

Well, you know. Because only about 200 other divers have tried doing crap like that to him.

That's almost exactly what I thought when he didn't react.

That's because they're Disney sharks.

Submersible animatronics. I'm almost positive.

What? Huh? I don't hear anything.

It's funny. I heard it and thought "Awww... Already?"
But when I got out... I was pretty beat!

You do what you gotta do to keep the peace...

You know the drill.

So if you were in a James Bond movie... the bad guys totally would have got the best of you.

You know that guy? In the James Bond movie who gets killed?
Yeah, I'm all of them.

Nemo looks like he's had a rough life.

Piper's favourite toy.

Turtle Talk

Illuminations

17 minutes

Check!

 

[pkondz]

Wow that must have taken a lot of fairies...

Nope! Just me!


Wait...

I just called myself a fairy.



And I was so close to getting my man card back!!

Dang.

Woohoo! Bout time being shameless paid off, other than in free drinks...

I take it this is one of your talents that you mentioned?

Had they not been invented yet?

Ha ha ha. You do know I deduct points too, right?

Actually, I did a bit of research and TV reception/programming wasn't available in my area until just a few years before I was born.
So no one had a TV much earlier than my parents did in Winnipeg.

Ah yes that's why you wanted to scuba drive! Nothing like a tale about a wooden boy becoming real to inspire a desire to scuba dive!

What?
He goes underwater too, ya know!

And now that I think of it.... it probably had an influence too!

Oh...or that...makes more sense...

There ya go.
See? That wasn't so hard now, was it?

I call this florescent light brain...or Tuesday...

I like that!

What were we talking about again.


Null.

Are you sure?

No.

But then there is always room for a snack!

Nah. He wasn't on the DDP and it would've cost too much OOP.

Okay why is everything you are saying today sounds really dirty

I'm going to say it's because of your mind.


I could be wrong.


I'm probably right.

So there's a tape?

Of course there is!
Have we learned nothing from Paris Hilton?


Answer: Yes. We've learned nothing from Paris Hilton.

Maybe he had heard you were coming and wanted to keep an eye on you...

And he did!

Why did you say that?! Hey don't press that red button it will realise puppies and rainbows! Of course now I now really want to click it!

But I wont...I'm a good girl.

It wouldn't be the end of the world, but it made more sense to view them with appropriate commentary.

They were probably thinking the same thing about you!

Never thought of it that way!
"There goes another diver. And another. And another. And... there's hundreds of them!"

Thank goodness! That would have been horrific!

I was really upset there for a bit.
I was wondering what was going to happen next.
I would think they wouldn't want the guests to see that.

Good plan I'm sure Tara would approve!

Thank goodness! Without Tara's approval, I don't think I could go on!

And being mistaken for the Child Catcher with balloons?

Yep. That's me.

You tried to kill an old woman?!

She had it coming.
She ordered her steak well-done.

Probably told her therapist!

You played chicken with a shark?! That is pretty bad-***...or silly...depends who won!

I ain't afraid of no shark!
(Said no one. Ever.)

You won...so bad-***!

Yep! But you have no idea how annoying it is to only have one hand to type with now.

Yeah I have a feeling real life sharks are slightly less friendly then Disney sharks...

It's the Disney shark-CM training they get that does it.

Well of course why else would you hold an event there and actually want to look at the aquarium?

You know what it reminded me of?
When I turned 40, I was surprised with a trip to Toronto to visit my sister.
She took me to a restaurant with an open kitchen.
We were both having a great time eating delicious offerings and watching the chefs.
I looked up at one point and noticed that the restaurant had filled up since our arrival.

And not a single person was watching the incredible culinary show that was right in front of them.


Know what? If you can't be enchanted by the magic that's right in front of your nose,
then the heck with you.

Little one huh? Cause the "water was cold" sure...

It's Small World!
No??
Test Track?

Anyone ever tell you that you were evil?
No?

No reason. Just curious.

Yes (I get points for that right?)

Depends on if I feel generous or not.

12784 seconds.

Now that's interesting.
I actually thought about it.
Just over three and a half hours...
How long would I wait for a bus before I finally gave up and either complained or too a cab?
I'm betting it would definitely be more than half an hour.
But probably less than an hour.

 

[pkondz]

The dive looks fantastic.

It was! Better than I had even hoped for!

I tried to drown myself repeatedly with a snorkel mask at the shark reef in Typhoon Lagoon.

It's supposed to go over your face!

I'm going to guess you park hopped to your "dessert" park. And went on Splash finally and watches Wishes!

Check!

Wow....that is seriously the coolest thing ever

It seriously was!

love the pics

Thanks!
But I can't really take credit.
I got them all off the video.

I can't help but laugh when I picture you swimming up to the window and waving at people eating their meals....so funny!! I think I would jump too lol.

I remember eating there and seeing a diver.
I thought "What a cool job!"

Never knew, at the time, that I would do the same thing one day.

But what an amazing once in a lifetime experience.

Nope! I plan on doing it again!
So more than once in a lifetime!

It's a pretty neat place for diving too...I don't think I'd do it in open water...but there...might be worth trying to get over the fear. And to be so close to sharks and fish and all kinds of amazing creatures...just...wow.

You have to already be a certified diver...
But you don't have to have scary ocean experience.

So sorry about the shirt size issue...too bad.

Actually, I was totally okay with it.
As soon as I saw the size, I immediately thought "I can include it as a prize!"

 

[pkondz]

You know, that works great when I'm updating my TR but never one I'm commenting on. I'll have to try it next time.

It's worked for me when commenting.

These sound like all books my boys would love! Treasure? Sharks? Like you the only one they'd be so-so on is nuclear power.

And it didn't have a whole lot of detail.
Of course, back then, there wasn't much.

That makes me sad. But at least the aquarium is HUGE!

They didn't seem stressed at all. The aquarium is huge!

You are such a good rule follower. Unlike us.

More like, I didn't want that tap on the shoulder followed by me getting kicked out.

She must get a lot of complaints about the temp so she just heads that one off at the pass.

She does! When we all scoffed at the mention of 78F,
she said that some people actually ask them to make it warmer.

People can be idiots.

She must have thought it goes without saying.

She may have said it. I just don't remember if she did.

So no obscene gestures?

That's exactly what she meant!

Have you seen the 7DMT videos? Now that's hokey.

I'll give you that one.

That isn't so bad.

Yeah. It was okay.
It's just I never liked "posed" pictures.
My dad does that all the time.
"Smile!"
"Just wait until I put my arm on this tree because no one ever does that but it looks oh-so-natural."

Like riding a bike.

Yep. Like riding a bike. Underwater. With sharks.

I guess it's a little thing compared to the overall experience.

Yeah, it only took a couple of minutes. I was just impatient to go play.

Amazing.

I didn't, I had to go back. I was distracted by that gorgeous stingray.

Beautiful, wasn't it? And so fast! It looks more like it's flying than swimming.

How cool! That's definitely a unique experience.

Whoa! I'd be desperately reminding myself that humans kill way more sharks than they kill humans.

I was thinking "Uh... What do I do now????"

That's not a bad gig - trailing a solo diver in that awesome aquarium.

I know I would do it!

Oh, no!

It's okay! I immediately thought it would make a great addition to the prize package.

Spaceship Earth
Illuminations
5 minutes

Check!

 

[pkondz]

Wow, that update was worth the wait.

Thanks!

It may have even gotten a little dusty as I was reading it.

That's okay. Just use some of the water to wipe it down from time to time.

What a fun time to play with the seas and the people who were watching!

I had such a great time.
All I could think about was putting smiles on all those kids faces as well as their parents.

Haha, I'd likely be shocked too if I was eating my dinner and had a diver surprise me.

That doesn't happen to you at home when you're eating dinner?

My official guesses:
1. Soarin'
2. Stayed for Illuminations after a wonderful dinner somewhere
3. 9 minutes

Check!

 

[lilpixiebabe101]

It's supposed to go over your face!

.... I may have kept having issues with keeping the snorkel up right. I don't like mouth guard type things in my mouth. I almost chocked to death trying to do the mold thing for my braces.

 

[pkondz]

Pardon me, kind sir, but would you happen to have any spare points?

Sure. Consider it done.

I do remember Bond nailing some bad guy with a harpoon gun and then saying, "He going the point."

That's the one.

Giant squid eating me! Sign me up!

I did have to kind of ignore that part.

You could try in your bathtub, too.

OMG.
I used to do just that.
When I was small enough to actually think a regular tub was "big",
I'd wear my mask and watch the water from the faucet.
I'd pretend I was with Captain Nemo out on an excursion from the Nautilus.

Wow, who knew? All this time, the dolphins were the real danger.

I've mentioned this a couple of times now (should have put it in the TR!)
But dolphins actually are more dangerous than the sharks.
The sharks can take a bite, but a dolphin can easily kill you if it wants to.

As long as they weren't sharks with frickin' laser beams on their heads.

Wait.... I may have seen one of those....

No gang signs, please.

I wouldn't have a clue how to recognize one, let alone make one.

Well, when you keep eating cronuts and not even counting them as a dessert, I mean...

I probably would have gotten confused and signaled "pass interference" or "illegal formation".

That's offside.

What were the other staged shots? Is that where you did the gang signs? Or do you get to shoot somebody with a harpoon gun?

All the shots were in and around the "coral".
The only thing I shot with the harpoon gun was my foot.


Still hurts.



I should pull that harpoon out.

No frickin' laser beam. No problem.

But seriously, nice work.

Thanks!

Dude...sweeeeeeetttt. No hurlin' on the shell, dude, just waxed it??

I used my keen powers of observation.

But not everyone noticed!

Awesome! I think I'd probably do the same! I can see where that would become addictive.

It's one of the reasons why I want to do it again!

It doesn't get old, I bet.

Nope. Always some new little kid would come around.
That big smile got me every time.

I love this!

Then 5 guys suddenly grabbed you and hauled you back up to the island.

"Wait! Wait! What are you doing???"
"Rescuing you sir!"
"Well un-rescue me!"

Did he have a bunch of smaller fish riding on his back? Was he singing?

You have no idea how hard it was to restrain myself from photoshopping them on there!

Very interesting. So Disney magic even works underwater.

Yep.

I had no idea, but now I know there's another part of Disney I'll never see!

You can reserve it if you want.

Might cost a little bit extra, though.

I hate that phrase. All bad things come to an end too.

I hated using it... almost as much as I hated experiencing it.

Is that a technical scuba term?

Yes, as a matter of fact it is.
You land lubbers wouldn't understand.

Well, I know my boys could wear it! Not me. Too many Dole Whips.

And that's just what I was hoping for.
That someone could find a use for it.
Either themselves if they were small enough, or their kids. (or nieces, nephews, cousins, etc.)

I'll say you lucked into a not-so-long wait at Soarin'.
And you stayed in Epcot for Illuminations.
A good solid 13 minutes. But you saw another resort get at least 2 buses before yours got there.

Got it.

 

[pkondz]

If @pkondz doesn't award bonus points for this one, I'll award you totally fake, useless bonus points, because there is nothing cooler than sharks with frickin' laser beams.

Meh. I dunno.
Those laser beam sharks are pretty common out in the wild.

Wow -- that sounds like an absolutely amazing experience! So much fun, and you got to spread some pixie dust, too!

It really was Darla!
I think I walked around with a big grin for the next few hours!

 

[pkondz]

Yes a Mardi Gras mask would have been really cool. If you wear it under water and it will fall apart fast leaving you with feathers, glitter and sequins in your eyes.

Yes, but for one brief shining moment, I would've looked marvelous!


And then drowned.
Again.

The Congregational Church near the elementary school I attended showed movies in it's basement every or maybe every other Friday, I think. It was always packed.

I remember those movies as being packed, too.

That was a really nice little bonus. It's too bad more students didn't take advantage of it.

They did!
He'd offered it the year before, only I hadn't heard about it.
So when I took it, probably another dozen or so had already done it in the previous year.
I have no idea if he kept it going after I graduated, though.

Maybe the other kids assumed since Ralphie was in the class, things were going to happen, and not necessarily good things.

Good point!
Although I made sure to not mention any of that at the time.
I'm pretty sure I would've been barred from the course.

Right. Ruby knows where in the insurance policy is kept?

Unfortunately.... yes.

I'll bet you were. Are you sure sharks don't like to grab a quick snack sometimes? Does anybody here know?

I honestly think I was a bit too big to snack on.
Since they were just fed, they weren't hungry,
and even if they were... I think I would still be too big.
I probably looked as menacing to them as they did to me!

You skipped the steak at lunch, but then you had the double dessert.

See? It evens out!

Brings a tear to your eye, doesn't it?

1. I'm going to go with Spaceship Earth.

2. Illuminations. There simply wasn't time for park hopping, especially before Fantasmic.

3. Epcot. See #2 above.

Got it.

 

[pkondz]

Darn those murderous lakes! Stay away from them

I have a strange feeling that one of them's gonna get me one of these days.

I probably would have been the rebel that threw caution to the wind and at least reached out to touch a fish. Definately not a shark, but something safe like a grouper or something.

Or a piranha...
Moray eel...
Box Jellyfish...
Stonefish...
Lionfish...
Barracuda...
Sea snake...

Maybe staying dry isn't such a bad idea.

I LOVE this!!!

I did too!

Bonus questions:
1. The Seas with Nemo & friends, 'cuz I'm a geek and would want to see where I had just been from the other side of the glass
2. Wishes, because well, what better way to end a spectacular day!
3. No wait for the bus because you took the monorail to MK

Check!

I may have kept having issues with keeping the snorkel up right.

Open end up.
There's your problem.

I don't like mouth guard type things in my mouth. I almost chocked to death trying to do the mold thing for my braces.

I have a fix for that.
Dentists love to pop those things in and leave you choking.
Whether it be a mold or a fluoride treatment.

Tilt your head forward.
Yes, you may make a mess on your bib (you are wearing one, right?),
but that's what it's there for.
Better to drool on the bib then choke to death.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

I thought we already established that everything's Tammie's fault?

Hey now!

I thought I'd give her a little break.

Thank you Kathy, that might get you some bonus points

 

[lilpixiebabe101]

[QUOTE="pkondz, post: 53702482, member: 142037"]

I have a fix for that.
Dentists love to pop those things in and leave you choking.
Whether it be a mold or a fluoride treatment.

Tilt your head forward.
Yes, you may make a mess on your bib (you are wearing one, right?),
but that's what it's there for.
Better to drool on the bib then choke to death.[/QUOTE]

Sadly the drool isn't the issue. I just feel like there's too much in my mouth and I'm chocking. (Yeah I'm sure no minds went to the gutter with that comment lol!)

 

[MAGICFOR2]

[QUOTE="pkondz, post: 53702482, member: 142037"]

I have a fix for that.
Dentists love to pop those things in and leave you choking.
Whether it be a mold or a fluoride treatment.

Tilt your head forward.
Yes, you may make a mess on your bib (you are wearing one, right?),
but that's what it's there for.
Better to drool on the bib then choke to death.

Sadly the drool isn't the issue. I just feel like there's too much in my mouth and I'm chocking. (Yeah I'm sure no minds went to the gutter with that comment lol!)[/QUOTE]
I sadly KWYM I have been able to get around
It when snorkeling because I get distracted by the view.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Hey Ponz! Just stopping by to say I loved your PD DIVE! I'll be back to comment too tired tonight.

1. You went out and checked out the Aquarium because you wanted to see it from the outside.

2. Illuminations. You wanted to reflect on your awesome dive while viewing reflections of earth

3. You waited for the bus for 40 min because everyone else was waiting too