Day 4 ”When is Spectromagic REALLY supposed to start?”

[yepod]

Sat Oct 26th
Cast of characters: DD-Emily, 3 ½ yo, ‘Where’s my Katie?’
DW-Jody, 40, ‘Figment lover that won’t follow my itinerary (even when it changes!)’
Me-John, 50, ‘Pin trader in training’

Mickey woke Emily up again at 6 AM (remember it’s mom that has to be early)! Start the day with Emily’s whining that “her Katie wasn’t there” & “when will it be afternoon so we can see her again”?! We rode the Epcot bus & were allowed to enter early for our 8:40 PS for the Princess Breakfast in Norway. It’s so neat to walk into the World Showcase before majority of guests. We saw Snow White, Pocahontas, Belle, Aurora & Jasmine for P&A! The fare is similar to Cindy’s (nothing to write home about). The other meals here are excellent.

But for the first time, we had bad service from a Norwegian CM. The Akershus is MY all time favorite restaurant at WDW, but we were so surprised that our server was extremely slow compared to the others around us & we had to ask for extra food & drink when they normally ask you. I know I’m just heartless to complain, but it was just so unlike the Akershus staff!

The manager offered the possibility of DD participating in the opening ceremony at Akershus when we returned Wednesday for our second PS here. I thanked him for his offer, but I don’t report these things to get freebees from management. I rarely complain at WDW (this is my 2nd time in I can’t remember how many years) & usually search out Management to praise CMs! It’s always kind of funny to see the reactions of most managers in & out of WDW, when you praise their staff! They just don’t expect it. It is always a pleasure to not only tip well for good service, but to pass the praise along to management in the hopes that the person will receive the same back from their boss! We cancelled our next PS at Akershus as the breakfasts seem to be all the same. We cancelled our Tony’s PS for Sunday morning for the same reason, & we had already done the Pooh thing last Thursday for lunch.
We intended to go back to POR for R & R & an afternoon of MK, but I wanted to stay & do a couple of things first. Jody starts to protest the schedule change, oh no! I steered us into Innoventions West, to send an e-mail picture to Oldkicker. (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=283189&highlight=yepod) Then Emily enjoyed the computer games immensely! Jody got with the program & agreed to see the new Figment Ride! It was better than the last one but not as good as the original! We then walked through the imagination area, but it was too busy to send a second e-mail (sorry sis) & we wanted to do a picture, but Emily threw a strop & so did mom (because of Emily’s snit).

We did buy some Figment bits for Jody (another Brit saying from Poohshoney)! I forgot to get the girls into Ice Station Cool for some of that great Beverly. Oh well, maybe next time!
We returned to POR for lunch. Mom & DD went to the pool & I followed to take some video of Emily’s swimming performance! She really loves the water & it’s such a treat to see how well she is swimming on her own with her latest floatation vest!
We then headed to the MK to meet Ron & Katie at Cosmic Rays for dinner. I always have mixed emotions about the food at Ray’s, but Ron pointed out the nice atmosphere with the added bonus of Sonny Eclipse’s performance! The 3 girls went on Buzz & got all of us fast passes, while Ron coached me on pin trading! We then ate & talked more pin trading (Ron & Katie are real pinheads)! We all headed to Buzz & Ron kept asking me “What’s-your-score-now”!

I had like 1600, he had like 350,000 but Jody proudly brags “I have 470,000!” Ron gallantly concedes to her superior marksmanship! She’s so darn competitive! Jody had read Zurg’s cheat sheet that I had printed out from badshoes.com before the trip.

You know the one that I ignored! I didn’t need to read any directions! We moved on, to do some pin trading & sightseeing before the parade & Fireworks.
Well let’s just say that I will take all the blame for this next fiasco. I had written on my itinerary that Spectromagic was to begin at 8 with the fireworks at 9. Oops, as we came into the park, I had grabbed the daily cheat sheet for event schedules, but forgot to READ IT! So on our way to scoping out a spot, we realized that all the prime spots are taken! Actually ALL the spots are taken. A quick check & we see the parade is really at 7:15. Did I say oops?!?

Of course the other responsible adults present were clueless, so I’ll take the brunt of the dirty looks & comments from my fellow companions. Actually Ron had an alternate little known spot to suggest, so we did get to at least see it (past some shrubbery!) Don’t tell anybody, but go across the bridge towards Liberty Square. Turn right before Sleepy Hollow snacks & head towards the left side of the castle. There’s a wall you can stand on to see over the crowd & most of the shrubs! Oh well, live & let….. (me be chastised)! We then proceeded to Fantasyland where the girls wanted to hit the rides before the fireworks. We all rode the obligatory IASW (yes Ron I have it on video so you can’t deny it!)

Let’s just say, we were getting a little tired (physically & of looking for good viewing spots)! . Ron & I were practically passed out on a bench!

We wound up watching (kind of) the works from behind the castle.
We called it a night & headed for the bus back to POR. Ron suggested not telling Emily we were getting together the next day! Great plan, I just hoped it would work!Day 5 Why not go on?

 

[Poohshoney]

Fancy you lot not having bits - I didn't know that? Bits and pieces are essential at Disney - and VERY dear!

I'm glad you complain because things tend to get worse not better if we don't BUT I'm ever so glad you praise because people don't, not nearly as much as they should do. And it's much more fun than complaining!!!

Hmmm... you like Akershus and Boma... Roland (DH) thinks you have great taste!

 

[pumba]

we will be there some time in the future and do a shooting expo.....hahaha.........We love Cosmic Rays steak and cheese sub and hubby can hardly wait to go there again.......I am still laughing at the ISWA......we had to do it in April four times so my mother in law could get her fill of it.......blahhhhhh.......after once .....it is all I can stomach.....have to say good going to my hubby for doing it.....I loved Figment too.......but not as good as the first......but a whole lot better then the second.......just a figment type person we are.......thanks again

 

[Marla Hellwig]

It does help to read the programs once in a while there John - thanks for posting!

 

[vald1977]

Sounds like another fun day for your family. I'll be back to read the rest later!

 

[nativetxn]

Ron is very shy and quiet, isn't he?

This was another fun day. It gets more difficult to arise at 6am as the trip progresses for me. Commando touring is pretty exhausting.

Thanks for posting this.

Katholyn

 

[oldkicker]

1600!!!! You sound like me, John!!! I'm awful at Buzz!!!!

Sorry to hear that you had that spot of bad service at Akershus. But happy to hear it seems an isolated thing from your experience.

How neat that Emily and Katie hit it off so well!