crcormier
<font color=green>We laughed, as it was quite appr
- Joined
- Oct 1, 2003
- Messages
- 7,862
Trip report: Sunny, cold, no crowds.
Oh, you want more than that? I didn't realize I was setting myself up for such pressure to perform.
Up around 9:30 with a bit of a hang... headache. A few aspirin and some water later I finally got myself moving enough to shower and head outside.
HOLY MOSES! Glad I had checked the weather before I walked outside, because it was downright COLD yesterday. 41 but felt like 30, according to the Weather Channel. I had jeans, a long sleeve jersey, a sweater and a jacket on, so I wasn't bad, except for my hands and face because that wind was cold! Why didn't I wear my gloves? Oh, because it's FLORIDA, and I forgot to PACK THEM, wise guy...
(Here's an aside. As I'm writing this I have the TV on that channel that shows The Top 7 Disney attractions at WDW with Krissa, you know the one. It's been on since I went to bed and since I got up. Actually I've gone to bed with it several nights. So I've seen it about 19 times. Yet I still keep watching it. It's like an addiction. She reminds me of Paige Davis from Trading Spaces. But bubblier. Who thought that was possible? She's cute though... Maybe she's Canadian...)
Back to my story... Out in the cold. Headed over to Epcot since I knew I wanted to have lunch there. Epcot was mildly crowded. Since I was still recovering from my headache-over, I decided to pass on Mission: Space and instead headed over to Spaceship Earth. I love this ride. I love the fact that it's one of the few things in FW that has yet to change, with the exception of losing Walter Cronkite as a narrator. Why that happened, I do not know, but that's all right. The line wrapped much too far to stand in the cold for, but it was early and it tends to collect people as they come in the park. So I walked past and went to the front entrance to get my photo taken with my Photo Pass. This new service is awesome, BTW. I don't know why they took so long before they did this, but its definitely THE way to get photos taken and to buy them. I'm sure to buy more of the professional photos now. And since I haven't had time to post my own photos yet, here's a link to my Photo Pass pictures! http://disneyphotopass.go.com/DPI/r.d?i=8515012 Hopefully it works! No making fun of the bad ones though... Open your eyes, dude!
So, over to Test Track, and since I'm solo, the single rider line. Twice. I know they had some troubles in the beginning, but I think this is a great ride. Really well done, I love looking at the details. Everyone see the Mickey in the 'cold room' office?
Just after noon I swung over to Journey Into Imagination before lunch. Say what you will, I know the original had charm and I don't know why they closed it, but the new one is cleverly done and has a lot of charm of its own and is underrated, I think! And I'm just glad that Figment is back!
Time to head to Canada to Le Cellier for lunch. And it's not just because of the girls... I've never eaten here and have always wanted to try it. Lunch consisted of Beef Barley Soup, an Open Face Sirloin Sandwich and Cheesecake for dessert, plus a Trois Pistoles beer. Everything was excellent, and the bill only came to $28 which I thought was pretty fair! (Though I did get a 10% discount with my AP.)
My belly satiated (and growing larger by the day) I decided it was time to head back to the room to shed the jacket since it was still cool but too warm for the jacket, long sleeve jersey and sweater. That done I began the trek over to MGM. That's why I bought the Beach Club, Epcot and MGM in walking distance, what could be better??? Besides, my waist needed me to walk off that lunch...
My showtime in my pocket, I got my photo taken again, and I went over to ToT and got a fastpass (not that it was needed). Those things done, it was time to head to Millionaire.
Okay, here's the trick to get into the hotseat. There are two. The fastest finger is blind luck. Don't bother trying to figure out the proper order, just push buttons, you have a better chance. That's how the person usually gets in, and why it is usually a kid. 600 people and someone is BOUND to get it randomly right. Well, maybe. Hey, I majored in English and Music, statistics was not on my courseload. You want to do the math, be my guest.
The other trick is, when playing along, as soon as you know the answer, start pushing it as quickly as you can repeatedly BEFORE it lights up. Since time is part of your score, you need to do this. I made the list several times and have been in the hotseat twice since learning this tip.
Yes, back in the hotseat, though not before going to the show four times. And the time before my show a guy named Chad made it to the Million Point question on a guess, but then lost!
Sorry, dude! But that was awesome!
So, show four, finally in the hotseat again and nervous as heck. Breezed through the first 5 questions. Used a 50:50 on what the other element of table salt is, even though I knew it was chlorine. TRUST YOUR GUT. But nerves do get the better of you. All right, made the 32,000 plateau. 64K, a comic book question. See mom? Told you all those comics when I was a kid would be worthwhile someday!
All right, 125K. What type of food conniseur is an oenophile? All right, I'm stumped, but don't want to use my lifelines just yet. I'm pretty sure that the phone a stranger will be useless. Choices are: Cured Meats, Wine, Eggs and Butter. Ask the Audience gave someone the wrong answer earlier, so I'm not sure they will be right on this one. I'm pretty sure it's not Cured Meats, and I'm positive it isn't butter. That leaves Wine and Eggs. Doesn't really sound like wine, and ornathology is the study of birds, right? Sounds like a latin bird/egg word. All right, I'll go for it.... Yes, it was wine. Ah well, another polo shirt, pins and hat to add, and a reason to come back 30 days from now... That cruise will be mine, mark my words... (Mark my words? I can't believe I just wrote that. What am I, a pirate???)
My tail between my legs I headed over to see the Osbourne Festival of Lights. Cute little preshow, and the lights are AMAZING. Really beautiful display, and the snow was appropriate with the cold weather! One plus on the hotseat was that I had three sets of people come up and chat with me at Osborne's who recognized me from the show. A family from Wisconsin, a couple from Massachusetts and an older gentleman from FL who moved down from NH. He was really nice and we chatted and walked for about 20 minutes. So the lights are great. I never saw them on Residential Street, so I can't compare, but I enjoyed it.
(Yes, Krissa is still on my TV for the third go round since I started this.)
Swung over to the ToT and RnRC twice, walking on both. Literally walking on, in RnRC they let you choose your own seats because it was so empty.
My legs sufficiently wobbly I decided to head back to the room, after picking up a photo for my grandmother for Xmas. (It's the one with Stitch, if you checked out the link above.)
Back in the room, I sat back a bit, then decided to see Illuminations. Made the short jaunt over and watched the show from the bridge between England and France. (A GREAT place to watch it from, perfect view. Just check that you aren't downwind from the fireworks, or it will get pretty hard to see!) I love Illumnations, it is my FAVORITE fireworks show at WDW. The music, the globe, the fireworks and waterworks, just all amazing. And at Xmas they add "Let There Be Peace On Earth" at the end. Very moving. I'm a little chilled and teary, and I don't think it's just the cold.
Illuminations over, I corralled back through the International Gateway (moo...) and headed back over to the Boardwalk for another night at Jellyrolls. Not as crowded tonight, I headed into the empty front row and plopped myself down. Stayed until closing, getting props from the pianists for singing, dancing and just playing along with them all night in the front row, by myself. These guys are just amazing. They're all so great, and just a heck of a lot of fun. I really wish I could play that well, that would be a dream job for me.
2AM. You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here. Luckily I'm at the Beach Club, just across the way. Through the cold and back in the room, it is now time to get some sleep before tomorrow's adventure. It will also be my last day solo, as two friends from my theater group, Scott and Sheila, will be coming down late tomorrow night for a weekend trip they decided to do last Monday. Scott's a Funeral Director, so he can afford last minute trips. Must be nice, huh? And Sheila is 40ish going on 12, she's so much fun, especially at a place like this!
Signing off till next time!
Day Five is alive...
Oh, you want more than that? I didn't realize I was setting myself up for such pressure to perform.
Up around 9:30 with a bit of a hang... headache. A few aspirin and some water later I finally got myself moving enough to shower and head outside.
HOLY MOSES! Glad I had checked the weather before I walked outside, because it was downright COLD yesterday. 41 but felt like 30, according to the Weather Channel. I had jeans, a long sleeve jersey, a sweater and a jacket on, so I wasn't bad, except for my hands and face because that wind was cold! Why didn't I wear my gloves? Oh, because it's FLORIDA, and I forgot to PACK THEM, wise guy...
(Here's an aside. As I'm writing this I have the TV on that channel that shows The Top 7 Disney attractions at WDW with Krissa, you know the one. It's been on since I went to bed and since I got up. Actually I've gone to bed with it several nights. So I've seen it about 19 times. Yet I still keep watching it. It's like an addiction. She reminds me of Paige Davis from Trading Spaces. But bubblier. Who thought that was possible? She's cute though... Maybe she's Canadian...)
Back to my story... Out in the cold. Headed over to Epcot since I knew I wanted to have lunch there. Epcot was mildly crowded. Since I was still recovering from my headache-over, I decided to pass on Mission: Space and instead headed over to Spaceship Earth. I love this ride. I love the fact that it's one of the few things in FW that has yet to change, with the exception of losing Walter Cronkite as a narrator. Why that happened, I do not know, but that's all right. The line wrapped much too far to stand in the cold for, but it was early and it tends to collect people as they come in the park. So I walked past and went to the front entrance to get my photo taken with my Photo Pass. This new service is awesome, BTW. I don't know why they took so long before they did this, but its definitely THE way to get photos taken and to buy them. I'm sure to buy more of the professional photos now. And since I haven't had time to post my own photos yet, here's a link to my Photo Pass pictures! http://disneyphotopass.go.com/DPI/r.d?i=8515012 Hopefully it works! No making fun of the bad ones though... Open your eyes, dude!
So, over to Test Track, and since I'm solo, the single rider line. Twice. I know they had some troubles in the beginning, but I think this is a great ride. Really well done, I love looking at the details. Everyone see the Mickey in the 'cold room' office?
Just after noon I swung over to Journey Into Imagination before lunch. Say what you will, I know the original had charm and I don't know why they closed it, but the new one is cleverly done and has a lot of charm of its own and is underrated, I think! And I'm just glad that Figment is back!
Time to head to Canada to Le Cellier for lunch. And it's not just because of the girls...
I've never eaten here and have always wanted to try it. Lunch consisted of Beef Barley Soup, an Open Face Sirloin Sandwich and Cheesecake for dessert, plus a Trois Pistoles beer. Everything was excellent, and the bill only came to $28 which I thought was pretty fair! (Though I did get a 10% discount with my AP.)My belly satiated (and growing larger by the day) I decided it was time to head back to the room to shed the jacket since it was still cool but too warm for the jacket, long sleeve jersey and sweater. That done I began the trek over to MGM. That's why I bought the Beach Club, Epcot and MGM in walking distance, what could be better??? Besides, my waist needed me to walk off that lunch...
My showtime in my pocket, I got my photo taken again, and I went over to ToT and got a fastpass (not that it was needed). Those things done, it was time to head to Millionaire.
Okay, here's the trick to get into the hotseat. There are two. The fastest finger is blind luck. Don't bother trying to figure out the proper order, just push buttons, you have a better chance. That's how the person usually gets in, and why it is usually a kid. 600 people and someone is BOUND to get it randomly right. Well, maybe. Hey, I majored in English and Music, statistics was not on my courseload. You want to do the math, be my guest.
The other trick is, when playing along, as soon as you know the answer, start pushing it as quickly as you can repeatedly BEFORE it lights up. Since time is part of your score, you need to do this. I made the list several times and have been in the hotseat twice since learning this tip.
Yes, back in the hotseat, though not before going to the show four times. And the time before my show a guy named Chad made it to the Million Point question on a guess, but then lost!
Sorry, dude! But that was awesome!So, show four, finally in the hotseat again and nervous as heck. Breezed through the first 5 questions. Used a 50:50 on what the other element of table salt is, even though I knew it was chlorine. TRUST YOUR GUT. But nerves do get the better of you. All right, made the 32,000 plateau. 64K, a comic book question. See mom? Told you all those comics when I was a kid would be worthwhile someday!
All right, 125K. What type of food conniseur is an oenophile? All right, I'm stumped, but don't want to use my lifelines just yet. I'm pretty sure that the phone a stranger will be useless. Choices are: Cured Meats, Wine, Eggs and Butter. Ask the Audience gave someone the wrong answer earlier, so I'm not sure they will be right on this one. I'm pretty sure it's not Cured Meats, and I'm positive it isn't butter. That leaves Wine and Eggs. Doesn't really sound like wine, and ornathology is the study of birds, right? Sounds like a latin bird/egg word. All right, I'll go for it....
Yes, it was wine. Ah well, another polo shirt, pins and hat to add, and a reason to come back 30 days from now... That cruise will be mine, mark my words... (Mark my words? I can't believe I just wrote that. What am I, a pirate???)My tail between my legs I headed over to see the Osbourne Festival of Lights. Cute little preshow, and the lights are AMAZING. Really beautiful display, and the snow was appropriate with the cold weather! One plus on the hotseat was that I had three sets of people come up and chat with me at Osborne's who recognized me from the show. A family from Wisconsin, a couple from Massachusetts and an older gentleman from FL who moved down from NH. He was really nice and we chatted and walked for about 20 minutes. So the lights are great. I never saw them on Residential Street, so I can't compare, but I enjoyed it.
(Yes, Krissa is still on my TV for the third go round since I started this.)
Swung over to the ToT and RnRC twice, walking on both. Literally walking on, in RnRC they let you choose your own seats because it was so empty.
My legs sufficiently wobbly I decided to head back to the room, after picking up a photo for my grandmother for Xmas. (It's the one with Stitch, if you checked out the link above.)
Back in the room, I sat back a bit, then decided to see Illuminations. Made the short jaunt over and watched the show from the bridge between England and France. (A GREAT place to watch it from, perfect view. Just check that you aren't downwind from the fireworks, or it will get pretty hard to see!) I love Illumnations, it is my FAVORITE fireworks show at WDW. The music, the globe, the fireworks and waterworks, just all amazing. And at Xmas they add "Let There Be Peace On Earth" at the end. Very moving. I'm a little chilled and teary, and I don't think it's just the cold.
Illuminations over, I corralled back through the International Gateway (moo...) and headed back over to the Boardwalk for another night at Jellyrolls. Not as crowded tonight, I headed into the empty front row and plopped myself down. Stayed until closing, getting props from the pianists for singing, dancing and just playing along with them all night in the front row, by myself. These guys are just amazing. They're all so great, and just a heck of a lot of fun. I really wish I could play that well, that would be a dream job for me.
2AM. You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here. Luckily I'm at the Beach Club, just across the way. Through the cold and back in the room, it is now time to get some sleep before tomorrow's adventure. It will also be my last day solo, as two friends from my theater group, Scott and Sheila, will be coming down late tomorrow night for a weekend trip they decided to do last Monday. Scott's a Funeral Director, so he can afford last minute trips. Must be nice, huh? And Sheila is 40ish going on 12, she's so much fun, especially at a place like this!
Signing off till next time!
Day Five is alive...
