SnackyStacky
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- May 29, 2002
- Messages
- 6,799
I wrote these journal entries before going to bed each night. They're not as detailed as some of the ones I've read, but oh heck, I was bored! 
All of my daily reports are linked on one site with digital camera photos as well. Click here to see them.
Cast:
Me, Dan, 23 years old, church music director with a serious Disney addiction
Lisa, roomate, 26 years old, law student praying that a law firm will hire her.
I don't know if I mention it in the entries, but we stayed at the Courtyard Marriott in Downtown Disney.
Tuesday, 9/03/02
We woke at 6:45 a.m. after a great night's sleep.
After showering, and a pop-tart & granola bar breakfast in the room, we headed out. Our rental car was due back today, but we pondered keeping it. We stopped at the Budget desk at the Doubletree in Downtown Disney. They told us it would cost over $300 to keep the car until the 7th, so we decided to axe that idea. We turned the car in, and got a bus to the Animal Kingdom.
Atmosphere wise, this is my favorite Disney theme park. The attention to detail is just stunning, and frequently I found myself not watching where I was going to look at the plants, and to figure out if those cracks in the pavement were supposed to be there.
I had brought water socks and a change of clothes because we were going to go on Kali River Rapids, and I was planning on getting soaked, but not riding back to the hotel like that. So, for $7, I rented a locker and put my change of clothes in. The price was actually $5, but $2 was added on as a refundable deposit on the key. The rental was also good at any other Disney theme park for the rest of the day.
The first thing we did was It's Tough To Be a Bug. We walked right into the theater. There was no line at all. I love this show because despite its billing as a 3D show, it's actually 4D. They shoot water at you, they make you think that a hornet is stinging you, you feel bugs moving under your butt, you smell the stink bug (Claire de Room) it's really just a neat show.
Then we headed over to Africa to take the Kilimanjaro Safaris. This time I was fully aware that Big Red and Little Red were indeed fictitious, and part of the elaborate "poaching plot line". They tell you that Big Red, the leader of the pack, has just had a baby elephant, Little Red. The "story" of the ride is that poachers have captured Little Red, and we have to free her. This ride is far more enjoyable in January. The ride vehicles are obviously not air-conditioned, and the tarp over the car makes it a hot ride in the morning Florida sun.
We left the African portion of the Animal Kingdom and headed to Dinoland USA. We decided to go on Primeval Whirl. This is in the new area at Dinoland, Chester & Hester's Dinorama. My first thought was that this area wasn't as bad as everyone made it out to be. My second thought was that it really was lacking that Disney "touch". It's difficult to describe that "touch" to anyone who hasn't experienced it. The theme of this new area is a roadside carnival. Not only does it seem very out of place in the scope of the Animal Kingdom, I can go to a roadside carnival and ride a wild mouse coaster anywhere! I was expecting something more from Disney.
Primeval Whirl itself was pretty cool, but once was definitely enough. It was a wild-mouse like roller coaster. The catch is that the car spins. (and spins, and spins, and spins .) I got a little too dizzy, and with only Lisa and I in the car, there was nothing to anchor us into the seats so we slid around, and it was a little painful for me.
Then we headed over to Dinosaur. It was somewhat scary the first time I went on it, and this time was no different. You hop into a time rover that takes you back to the cretaceous period. We're supposed to pick up an Iguanodon before a giant asteroid hits the earth. The same asteroid that wiped out all life. Both Lisa and I agreed that it is definitely quite frightening, but fun at the same time!
Lisa wanted to see The Festival of the Lion King, so we made our way over to Camp Minnie-Mickey. The show itself was cute. Lots of acrobatics and canned music. After having seen the real theatrical production, this one just paled in comparison.
After the show, Lisa waited for me while I went back to the locker to get my water socks and leave our bags in the locker. We were going to go on Kali River Rapids, and I was ready! It was a neat ride. I completely missed the pre-show because of the line; or lack thereof. This was one drawback to not having any lines. You miss some of the great stuff in the queueing areas! My only real complaint with this ride is that it needs to be longer. It was far too short. Of course I ended up on the downside of the hill, so a huge wave crashed over both Lisa and I and we were drenched, while the other side of the boat remained mostly dry.
I sloshed back to the locker to put on a dry shirt, and dry socks and shoes. We headed out of the park and back to the hotel for some lunch, and rest before heading out to MGM.
Trying to order lunch was a pain in the butt! I was trying to keep the meals somewhat healthy, and the menu said they had a grilled chicken sandwich. But when I called down, they didn't have that, so I asked for a turkey sandwich. They told me all they had them on was a croissant. I asked if they had anything on regular bread. They said they didn't, but they could special order it. So they did. I had asked for fruit, but instead, got a big old order of French fries, so I had to pay $5 to get a side order of fruit! AARRGGHH!!
After lunch, we rested for a few minutes, and headed to MGM. As soon as we got through the gates, we headed toward the Rock 'n Roller Coaster. I still LOVE this ride! And once again, probably best of all, there were NO LINES! In fact, we headed right from the exit back to the entrance and rode again! The first time we rode, I had put my bag under my knees, and I thought the centrifugal force would have kept it in place, but it didn't. Lisa grabbed it though, and held it the second time we went on.
After the 2nd time on it, we headed over to see the Muppets 3D show. I'd wanted to do this last time, but time just got away from us on our MGM day in January. I'm glad I did this, but it wasn't worth the wait. Very cute, and very funny, but It's Tough to Be a Bug is still my favorite!!! At the end of the Muppets, they fired a cannon and "destroyed" the theatre. (Which looked exactly like the Muppet Show theatre, complete with the old hecklers sitting in the balcony .why can I never remember their names?!)
Afterwards, we decided to do the Backlot Tour. Same tour, it's still neat to see the façade of the Golden Girls' house, but not much changed. Except that NOBODY got as wet as Lisa did last time we went on!
Then we headed over to the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular. It was really neat. I'm glad I got to see it, but it wasn't worth my upset at not getting to see it last time. I also wasn't paying too much attention because I was planning on swimming after MGM, but storm clouds were rolling in, and I was too focused on those.
We headed for the exit, and both of us were exhausted. The bus wasn't there, but there was a taxi. We asked the driver how much it would be to get back to the hotel. He told us it would be about $8, but no more than $10. It was worth the $10 to not have to wait in the heat for the bus. On the way back, we saw a very serious accident. A van had flipped over, taking out a tree. It smelled like gas for a good ½ mile beyond the accident site.
We got back and the storms had stayed away long enough for us to swim, so we changed into our bathing suits and went to the pool. It was so nice and relaxing. Especially getting into the hot tub for a moment and then the pool. It made it seem so much cooler.
After getting out, Lisa and I decided to ask about getting our room switched. We spoke to a very surly, yet somehow nice woman named Ginny. We ended up with a tower room on the 4th floor. Ironically, our room number was 407, the same as the Orlando area code which threw EVERYONE who needed our room number for a loop.
"What's your room number?"
"407."
"No, your room number."
"That is my room number."
"407? As in the same as the area code?"
"The same."
"Oh."
I think I had that conversation about two or three times!
We moved our stuff, and changed for dinner. We headed to Downtown Disney and decided on the House of Blues. I had an AMAZING cup of chicken noodle soup. I'm not one to rave about chicken noodle soup, but it was delicious! Perfectly seasoned, not too salty .it was REALLY good. As an entrée, I had the jumbalaya. Lisa had twin medallions of beef with caramelized onions and goat cheese with a side of mashed potatoes that were to die for!
We were both STUFFED, and headed back for the room.
All of my daily reports are linked on one site with digital camera photos as well. Click here to see them.
Cast:
Me, Dan, 23 years old, church music director with a serious Disney addiction
Lisa, roomate, 26 years old, law student praying that a law firm will hire her.
I don't know if I mention it in the entries, but we stayed at the Courtyard Marriott in Downtown Disney.
Tuesday, 9/03/02
We woke at 6:45 a.m. after a great night's sleep.
After showering, and a pop-tart & granola bar breakfast in the room, we headed out. Our rental car was due back today, but we pondered keeping it. We stopped at the Budget desk at the Doubletree in Downtown Disney. They told us it would cost over $300 to keep the car until the 7th, so we decided to axe that idea. We turned the car in, and got a bus to the Animal Kingdom.
Atmosphere wise, this is my favorite Disney theme park. The attention to detail is just stunning, and frequently I found myself not watching where I was going to look at the plants, and to figure out if those cracks in the pavement were supposed to be there.
I had brought water socks and a change of clothes because we were going to go on Kali River Rapids, and I was planning on getting soaked, but not riding back to the hotel like that. So, for $7, I rented a locker and put my change of clothes in. The price was actually $5, but $2 was added on as a refundable deposit on the key. The rental was also good at any other Disney theme park for the rest of the day.
The first thing we did was It's Tough To Be a Bug. We walked right into the theater. There was no line at all. I love this show because despite its billing as a 3D show, it's actually 4D. They shoot water at you, they make you think that a hornet is stinging you, you feel bugs moving under your butt, you smell the stink bug (Claire de Room) it's really just a neat show.
Then we headed over to Africa to take the Kilimanjaro Safaris. This time I was fully aware that Big Red and Little Red were indeed fictitious, and part of the elaborate "poaching plot line". They tell you that Big Red, the leader of the pack, has just had a baby elephant, Little Red. The "story" of the ride is that poachers have captured Little Red, and we have to free her. This ride is far more enjoyable in January. The ride vehicles are obviously not air-conditioned, and the tarp over the car makes it a hot ride in the morning Florida sun.
We left the African portion of the Animal Kingdom and headed to Dinoland USA. We decided to go on Primeval Whirl. This is in the new area at Dinoland, Chester & Hester's Dinorama. My first thought was that this area wasn't as bad as everyone made it out to be. My second thought was that it really was lacking that Disney "touch". It's difficult to describe that "touch" to anyone who hasn't experienced it. The theme of this new area is a roadside carnival. Not only does it seem very out of place in the scope of the Animal Kingdom, I can go to a roadside carnival and ride a wild mouse coaster anywhere! I was expecting something more from Disney.
Primeval Whirl itself was pretty cool, but once was definitely enough. It was a wild-mouse like roller coaster. The catch is that the car spins. (and spins, and spins, and spins .) I got a little too dizzy, and with only Lisa and I in the car, there was nothing to anchor us into the seats so we slid around, and it was a little painful for me.
Then we headed over to Dinosaur. It was somewhat scary the first time I went on it, and this time was no different. You hop into a time rover that takes you back to the cretaceous period. We're supposed to pick up an Iguanodon before a giant asteroid hits the earth. The same asteroid that wiped out all life. Both Lisa and I agreed that it is definitely quite frightening, but fun at the same time!
Lisa wanted to see The Festival of the Lion King, so we made our way over to Camp Minnie-Mickey. The show itself was cute. Lots of acrobatics and canned music. After having seen the real theatrical production, this one just paled in comparison.
After the show, Lisa waited for me while I went back to the locker to get my water socks and leave our bags in the locker. We were going to go on Kali River Rapids, and I was ready!
It was a neat ride. I completely missed the pre-show because of the line; or lack thereof. This was one drawback to not having any lines. You miss some of the great stuff in the queueing areas! My only real complaint with this ride is that it needs to be longer. It was far too short. Of course I ended up on the downside of the hill, so a huge wave crashed over both Lisa and I and we were drenched, while the other side of the boat remained mostly dry. I sloshed back to the locker to put on a dry shirt, and dry socks and shoes. We headed out of the park and back to the hotel for some lunch, and rest before heading out to MGM.
Trying to order lunch was a pain in the butt! I was trying to keep the meals somewhat healthy, and the menu said they had a grilled chicken sandwich. But when I called down, they didn't have that, so I asked for a turkey sandwich. They told me all they had them on was a croissant. I asked if they had anything on regular bread. They said they didn't, but they could special order it. So they did. I had asked for fruit, but instead, got a big old order of French fries, so I had to pay $5 to get a side order of fruit! AARRGGHH!!
After lunch, we rested for a few minutes, and headed to MGM. As soon as we got through the gates, we headed toward the Rock 'n Roller Coaster. I still LOVE this ride! And once again, probably best of all, there were NO LINES! In fact, we headed right from the exit back to the entrance and rode again! The first time we rode, I had put my bag under my knees, and I thought the centrifugal force would have kept it in place, but it didn't. Lisa grabbed it though, and held it the second time we went on.
After the 2nd time on it, we headed over to see the Muppets 3D show. I'd wanted to do this last time, but time just got away from us on our MGM day in January. I'm glad I did this, but it wasn't worth the wait. Very cute, and very funny, but It's Tough to Be a Bug is still my favorite!!! At the end of the Muppets, they fired a cannon and "destroyed" the theatre. (Which looked exactly like the Muppet Show theatre, complete with the old hecklers sitting in the balcony .why can I never remember their names?!)
Afterwards, we decided to do the Backlot Tour. Same tour, it's still neat to see the façade of the Golden Girls' house, but not much changed. Except that NOBODY got as wet as Lisa did last time we went on!
Then we headed over to the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular. It was really neat. I'm glad I got to see it, but it wasn't worth my upset at not getting to see it last time. I also wasn't paying too much attention because I was planning on swimming after MGM, but storm clouds were rolling in, and I was too focused on those.
We headed for the exit, and both of us were exhausted. The bus wasn't there, but there was a taxi. We asked the driver how much it would be to get back to the hotel. He told us it would be about $8, but no more than $10. It was worth the $10 to not have to wait in the heat for the bus. On the way back, we saw a very serious accident. A van had flipped over, taking out a tree. It smelled like gas for a good ½ mile beyond the accident site.
We got back and the storms had stayed away long enough for us to swim, so we changed into our bathing suits and went to the pool. It was so nice and relaxing. Especially getting into the hot tub for a moment and then the pool. It made it seem so much cooler.
After getting out, Lisa and I decided to ask about getting our room switched. We spoke to a very surly, yet somehow nice woman named Ginny. We ended up with a tower room on the 4th floor. Ironically, our room number was 407, the same as the Orlando area code which threw EVERYONE who needed our room number for a loop.
"What's your room number?"
"407."
"No, your room number."
"That is my room number."
"407? As in the same as the area code?"
"The same."
"Oh."
I think I had that conversation about two or three times!
We moved our stuff, and changed for dinner. We headed to Downtown Disney and decided on the House of Blues. I had an AMAZING cup of chicken noodle soup. I'm not one to rave about chicken noodle soup, but it was delicious! Perfectly seasoned, not too salty .it was REALLY good. As an entrée, I had the jumbalaya. Lisa had twin medallions of beef with caramelized onions and goat cheese with a side of mashed potatoes that were to die for!
We were both STUFFED, and headed back for the room.
