Crazy From the Heat..an August 2011 Trip Review **UPDATED FEB 28th!**

[BigTikiDaddy]

Nice pics Brent.

Where's they move Lightning and Mater, last time I saw them they were at the Garage in Radiator Springs.

It's pretty close to the same place, closer to the Stunt Show, right around the corner from Mike and Sully. Last time I saw them, there was no backdrop, and I'm bad at finding my way around that area of the Studios.

**UPON FURTHER REVIEW** I think it's the same place, new backdrop, for Cars 2

 

[BigTikiDaddy]

Okay, let's get this back on track here, it's only been 3-4 months, things get sidetracked, what can I say? This might lack a few details, I have a sometimes spotty memory, and am using my pictures to fill in the gaps.


After leaving the GMR, we headed towards the animation courtyard, our goal to see if there'd be any "bonus" characters there, as we had heard do show up from time to time.We lucked out as lots were there to see, and we lined up for Pinnoccio and Geppetto, Chip and Dale, Hook and Smee, Mary Poppins and the Penguins, Stitch, Pluto, Goofy and Minnie, on top of Winnie the Pooh and the Incredibles. Kids loaded up their autograph books, and we had a lot of fun. As it turns out, these appearances at the courtyard (or, so we are told) are "training sessions" for new employees etc, and if so let me tell you this: The CMs playing Pinnoccio and Geppetto should be locked in long term, they had EVERYONE in stitches with their antics, just brilliant. (I made sure to comment to the handler afterwards). I then oversaw the girls running around while Jo tried the drawing session, and did quite good with Stitch. We then headed out to check out the ToT, and I really noticed a discomfort walking, all thanks to a heat rash. Just lovely. We pressed on, to get rained on good. We donned the ponchos and waited while DW tried ToT. It wasd starting to get dark now, and the original plan was to check out how bad TSM was now that Fantasmic was lining up, and the rain, but I vetoed it wanting to get back before I ripped my legs to shreads. We went back to the POP, and grabbed dinner at the food court, and crashed for the night. I brought my "rash gear" just in case and got it treated. (This was the only time the heat gave me issues, never an issue after this )

All and all, it was a good day, the first time we started out the trip NOT at MK. We noted what we missed (Phineas and Ferb, RnR) and we could plan our second day there accordingly.

 

[BigTikiDaddy]

Hopefully really soon (just not tonight) I will get to Day 4, where we get to our only day at Animal Kingdom, and we learn that Brent v.s. Rain is not an even matchup

 

[BigTikiDaddy]

Something I forgot to mention in earlier posts : Since comming off the plane, DW discovered that her feet had swollen and were rubbing on her well-worn Crocs, causing blisters. This essentially created an issue wiuth blisters on all the shoes she brought with her, which we treated daily with band-aids (Mickey ones of course), and moleskin. Every trip she ends up with shoe issues. (And oddly enough, every trip she gets a new pair of Mickey footware oddly enough )

We got up with the alarm today, and got ourselves together early to head out to AK for an early ADR at Tusker House, our favorite breakfast place hands down. On our way to the bus the girls had a blast watching the rabbits and lizards running around. My leg was a little tender still, but a lot better, and by noon ant discomfort was gone . We made good time and caught an empty bus to AK and were there by 7:30am, and only waited 15 mins before we were let in, giving us time to stroll through the gardens and towards Tusker. It was a real steamy morning too, already sweating despite the early morning. We parked and secured the stroller (rain cover) and got our picture with Donald, then got seated. Breakfast was great as always, I ate my $$ worth in blintzes alone We opted not to buy the picture this time, we did last year, and that was enough. Quite full, we headed to the Safari and it was pretty much walk-on so we did.

This was a great tour this time round, the animals were all out, the giraffes quite active running across the plain, right in front of us. Afterwards we did the Jungle Trek and stayed in the area deciding to hit the train to the conservation station, a first for the girls, and something Jo and I hadn't done since 2003. After a short train ride we went to the building to bask in it's Air Condtioned glory. We explored the various exhibits and the girls got more meet & greet time with Jiminy Cricket, Pocohantas, Rafiki and Meeko. We lucked out and the vets were doing a biopsy on a duck's liver today so watched the surgery. Amelia was anxious foir Everest so we grabbed some water and headed back. By now the heat was horrendous. I ran ahead and got fastpasses for Everest and we did the Tiger Trail, then grabbed lunch at Yak and Yeti, we lucked out and grabbed a shaded table, and ate. Audrey had retreated to the stroller in time for some rain, so while Jo and Amelia rode Everest I stayed with her in the gift shop, and she soon passed out for a nap. I noted she loved a toy train with Mickey and the Yeti and played with ot before sleep came. I showed it to Jo and swapped with her taking Amelia on Everest. I asked for and got the front train. And loved it. We likely annoyed other folks with our chant "We're Ready, For Spagetti, with the Yeti" but we had fun with it. We got off and Jo had gotten the train for Audrey and a ride pic with her and Amelia that was priceless, Amelia looked awesome screaming. Rain had stopped so headed back outtowards dino world, but we were getting cranky with the heat so decided to do Camp Minnie-Mickey for a character check and maybe Lion King. We hopped in ands out of shops along the way to cool off, and before we got to the trail to MinnieMickey, it started to rain HARD.

So here it is pouring and everyone gears up for the rain. Everyone that is, EXCEPT me, who thinks it'll go away fast. I walk right out there and got soaked. We realized at this point, it wasn't a brief shower but a real storm so we gave up here and headed to the busses. (Some thunder and lightning helped convince me too)I was drenched here bad The busses to the POP were delayed and the storm drove a lot of people out of AK (parade was cancelled) so there was a huge crowd waiting. We got back though and got into dry clothes and relaxed for a few hours before heading out to an 8pm ADR for Chef Mickeys...I switched to my crocs as my shoes were soaked through.

But Mother Nature had one more surprise in store for us.... as we will find out later...

to be continued

 

[BigTikiDaddy]

Okay, so we took a bit of time and got rested up and dried from our AK adventure. By 6 we were out the door again, ditched the stroller and headed off to the MK bus. No need for a stroller this time, no parks, just dinner at Chef Mickeys. Not too many people on the bus, surprising that more people wen't out and about due to the break in the storm. But rain did keep comming on/off, so who knows. We decided to get get the Monorail from MK and go to the Poly for a bit, too show the girls, but were stopped as the Monorails were down, no reason was given. There was one in the station, and one stopped down the line. So we got onto a line and took the small boats to the Poly instead. We hadn;t ridden this for years now. Got to the Poly, but only rushed through the resort as time was an issue now that no Monorails were running, and we had to get to the Contemporary for dinner. Looked around the gift shop and the lobby and went to talk to the CM out front. Turns out lightning hit the rails putting the system down with no idea when it;d be back running. The wait for the boats was LONG now, and bussing it would take time.

I should point out now, every trip we've done, we have instituted a budget per day. It's what we bring with us each day, and that's it. If there is cash left over, then it rolls into the next day's budget, etc, this way we don't blow anything etc, and no money issues. We do have a generous daily budget, that works well, we never actually use it up, and at this point, hadn;t even hit into that days spending cash, still using the surplus funds, (Dining plan helps a LOT)

So, they went and got us a taxi, and we zoomed over to the Contemp quickly, with a bit of time to spare. Dinner was supposed to be 7:05. We checked in and wandered the area, looking around, never have been here before. Looked around the gift shops etc, and sat and waited by a window looking out at the MK, watching another rainstorm. There was Monorail Red sitting there where it stalled. Sat there the whole time too. Still waiting. Well past our time now, and a lot more people were impaitent too, waiting over an hour (!). A woman came around with fruit and water for those waiting, and apparently what happened was a lot of people were late for their ADRs because the Monorail was down, and because this was almost an "Act Of God", they were trying to get everyone fit in. (((As an aside though, this is why we always go early, try to get 1/2 hour - 20 minutes early to ours, just in case something happpens. Too many figure get there right on time works, to each their own, no big deal))) We didn;t fare too badly, only 35 minutes past our time, only the second time ever we had to wait past our ADR time, heck, some times we got seated early!) All was good.

Dinner was Okay, some of the kids around us were a bit rowdy, ours were fairly quiet (tired), the restraunt was noisy, characters good, the poor staff frazzled from night. I always had ginger ale in front of me, no empty glass. Food was okay, tried lots. They started to close the sundae bar a bit early though, cleaned it all up after we used it, but they were still seating people close to 9! Including a young family beside us as we were geting ready to leave. We were tired but full and content, walked to the MK and grabbed the busses, but could not QUITE beat the post-fireworks rush, but were mostly ahead of it. Got home and Audrey crashed right away, Amelia and I had a quick pool dip, watching lightning way off in the distance, and at 10:30, we crashed too. Tomorrow was a big day, with a Magic Kingdom marathon planned

 

[BigTikiDaddy]

The next day opened up the usual way, with me waking before everyone else. Instead of the "can't wait to get going" attitude I usually had, this time it was something more on my mind. My shoes, which had been soaked through the day before. I checked on them, and they were still wet. I did not want to go a whole day in crocs, so I needed to come up with something, and the hair dryer would wake everyone, so I gathered up some damp stuff and headed out to the laundry, DW had woken and went back to sleep. It was really early, around 6:30-7, but just my luck the rules posted said "NO SHOES".

That is when I decided to do something bad, I put them in anyways. I wrapped them up in the other clothes first, to minimize the banging and put them through. I let it go about 15 minutes but felt way too guilty about it and stopped. They did get warmed up good and it did help a bit, but I still had damp shoes, but I had to come up with another plan, I did not want to break the dryer or anything like that, so went back defeated, but soon had another idea. No one was up yet, so I grabbed an extra pair of socks and went for a walk, two pairs of socks on, and with my weight, managed to absorb most of the water left into the socks! I grabbed drinks for all and got back to the room, everyone started stiring. We git ourselves together and headed out to the Magic Kingdom (at last!) This is the first time we've waited this long to get there. No breakfast per-say, the girls had some cereal bars and drink before we headed out. Also, for Jo's request, we all wore somewhat matching outfits, purple plaid shirts

We arrived just after opening, and headed to the lockers, I had a backpack of clothes etc to store just in case of rain again We then entered through the right gate, and man did it feel right

First stop was to Exposition Hall, went up to the fastpass machines and grabbed some For both Mickey and the Princesses. For some reason at this point, I had the girls and we wandered to Main Street itself where I learned a minor mystery with Audrey. So far, she's asked a couple times a day when we were headed to Disney World. ??? We kept telling her we were there, but she's 3, there is bound to be some confusion Now that she could see the castle, she yelled out "Disney World! We're at Disney World" "Look Daddy, Amelia, DisneyWorld!" She associated the castle with Disney from the year prior, ah-ha! We headed to the Main Street Bakery for cinnamon buns and chocolate milk, then back for the meet & greet. Met with both Mickey and Minnie, then Cinderella, Belle and Aurora.

Gotta stop here, gotta run out the door for a while...

 

[BigTikiDaddy]

Will try to update this week, still really busy