Music Mole
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Aug 7, 2002
- Messages
- 180
Cast: me, Elisabeth, Planner and official historian of the trip
DH, Gavin, Park Commando in recovery
We've both been to WDW before, but never together, and our last trips were within weeks of eachother during the 25th Anniversary year. Since we met 5 years ago, we have always wanted to go to WDW together - and this is our trip!
Day 4, Friday, October 4th
Woke to Mickey telling us to get up and at em as he had each morning since we came. Theres something hard to resist when he tells you theres big doins going on. I was much refreshed from last evening being more relaxed and slower paced. Gavins internal Park Commando was happy with all that hed accomplished in the late afternoon and evening, so much mollified we set off to MGM after a breakfast at the Ale & Compass in the YC lobby. This is great if you are cereal for breakfast types, which we are. We took the Friendship Launch to MGM and got there a few minutes after 9, and headed straight back to Rockin Roller Coaster, which was a walk on. Again (as with Figment) we were the only people both in the recording studio and then on the coaster. Had our choice of seats and chose the very front was this wise? Who can say? Wow what a take off that was cool but then the looping in the near dark started and ooh, methinks this was not such a good idea. Am I getting old? Am I losing it? I, who used to ride Space Mountain 4 times n a row could I really be losing my edge? Um, it would appear so. Gavin asked the attendant where the lost and found was so we could go claim our stomachs, and I found the nearest bench and looked like one of those little green people who has just gotten off a coaster in Roller Coaster Tycoon (a computer game we play lots of fun you have to build a park, maintain it, keep the guests happy, etc.). We stop at the Produce stand and buy a coke, and sit there for awhile. Definite decision to postpone Tower of Terror. Gavin asked what I would like to do next my answer: Something slow moving, in air conditioning. So, on to the Great Movie Ride which filled the bill quite nicely. Then the animation tour really neat to see what they have in development and we love seeing the process behind the finished product. Now what did I feel up to hmm, stomach pretty settled now how about lunch? Had a PS for dinner at Hollywood and Vine, but decided to go for lunch instead (Brown Derbys menu has nothing that appeals to Gavin). Boy am I glad we did! Hands down the best character meal ever! Of course, any time Chip & Dale are present, its going to be fun, but the surprise favorite for me: Goofy. First of all, I love how the characters are not in their usual dress: Minnie is in her glamorous gown and Goofy in his suit. And this Goof y was just the best. As he came to our table, he noticed my Texas Mickey pin that I had bought at the Disney Store before coming, in hopes that I could trade it with someone. Well, he kept gesturing for me to put the pin on his lapel; I teased him that I had brought it to trade, and that that wouldnt really be a proper trade, now would it? But he really wanted the pin. I looked at him (the re were no kids around we were several tables away from anyone else) and I said, You must be a pin trader and he nodded yes. He motioned again for me to put the pin on his lapel I asked if he would get in trouble for having something non-standard on his costume he gestured that he didnt care, and so I gave away my pin! Later I went over to the other side of the restaurant (it was so big and only a few families there) and told him I wanted to get his picture so I would have a record of where my pin went he posed nicely pointing to my pin, I thanked him and he kissed my hand, and then went back to my table and got some dessert. Well, the next thing I know, Goofy is sitting next to me with his pin lanyard he went and got his lanyard and is motioning to me to select a pin. I decide on one of Minnie, since this is her character meal (as opposed to Mickey) and it will remind me of this wonderful lunch. Then he motions to me to take a second pin! So I get a 100 years of magic pin thank you Goofy for the magic you gave to us at lunch! Walts magic is still there in the hearts of people like you! All of the characters at this meal were outstanding in their interaction we had a whole thing going with Chip, telling us that hes the angel and Dales the devil, and talking about our dogs with Pluto plus I love the little song/dance that they do all in all a true highlight of the trip.
After lunch we went to see the 1:30 Beauty and the Beast show this is one of my favorite movies (I have 2 versions on Laserdisc one is the unfinished version that showed to such acclaim at the NY film festival before it was released to theaters). The temperature/humidity gauge on the soundboard just in front of us said 90 degrees and 49% humidity gees no wonder Im sweating so much! The pre-show here was really neat an acapella group called 4 for a Dollar and it starts out like they are doing a sounds check they were really good and very entertaining. We loved the B&B show, and after it was over went to the 2:30 Indiana Jones Stunt Show. Lots of people from Texas picked as volunteers even one from Fort Worth! Small world . . .
Next we had our picture made with Sorcerer Mickey, and it was funny just before it was our turn, the attendant came up and redid the snap at the front of Mickeys robe and said something about making sure he was decent Mickey was really cute managed to look embarrassed about having his fly open really funny! Looked for Sully and Mike not out, and then onto the Backlot tour. Boy did we melt in the sun waiting for that tram to get moving this was nice and it was nice to see the street where the Osborne lights are set up at Christmas. We got done with that just in time to see the parade right where it started the little host was pretty funny it was neat how he got the kids involved one even got a Monsters Inc. DVD. I liked the parade but then, Im a parade, fireworks or any other kind of spectacle kind of girl. On to Tatooine Traders for some Star Wars stuff or Neil for driving us to the airport at that ungodly hour.
We decided to get some dinner, and tried Mama Melroses at 5:10 PM with no PS got right in, although there was a definite wait by the time we finished. The food and service were ok not bad at all but nothing I would go out of my way for. I decided to get a temporary tattoo in the Muppet area - how about some Muppet characters? Id have loved to get Kermit I got a very cute little Piglet instead. We watched the Muppets 3-D this is my favorite of all the 3-D movies. There was so little wait we missed the preshow! Then, I decided that my love for Star Tours was such that I would regret not riding it, so off we went our longest queue so far maybe 10 minutes? Turns out I wasnt quite over RnR and had to close my eyes during part of the film In future I will have to try that Mez-stuff that a couple of people on the boards have talked about. On to Sounds Dangerous, just so we could say we did it with a 6 minute wait. Not bad, but nothing I would go out of my way to do I love Drew Carey but thats not really him at his best (wheres Ryan & Colin?).
Checked out our Sorcerer Mickey picture will I ever like any of these pictures? I didnt like the one taken by the photographer when we came this morning either. Oh well.
7:20 headed for seats at Fantasmic wow this sure beats having to carve out a piece of pavement in Disneyland! Gavin realized we were out of film so headed out to get some, but made it back in plenty of time for the show. And well, I have to say, we were both surprised to find ourselves a little disappointed. We both like the Disneyland version better I dont know if the show changes from year to year, or if they are different because of the staging limitations that DL has, but whatever the reason, we liked the DL version better.
We headed with the masses to the exits, and decided to take a bus to Downtown Disney, where we shopped and I do mean shopped! Got the discount by using the AmEx (yeah I knew there was justification somewhere. . .) and got lots of things for us (including a scrapbook) as well as family. At 11 PM we caught the bus to the hotel (or home as I kept calling it
Tomorrow - Epcot - take 3
DH, Gavin, Park Commando in recovery
We've both been to WDW before, but never together, and our last trips were within weeks of eachother during the 25th Anniversary year. Since we met 5 years ago, we have always wanted to go to WDW together - and this is our trip!
Day 4, Friday, October 4th
Woke to Mickey telling us to get up and at em as he had each morning since we came. Theres something hard to resist when he tells you theres big doins going on. I was much refreshed from last evening being more relaxed and slower paced. Gavins internal Park Commando was happy with all that hed accomplished in the late afternoon and evening, so much mollified we set off to MGM after a breakfast at the Ale & Compass in the YC lobby. This is great if you are cereal for breakfast types, which we are. We took the Friendship Launch to MGM and got there a few minutes after 9, and headed straight back to Rockin Roller Coaster, which was a walk on. Again (as with Figment) we were the only people both in the recording studio and then on the coaster. Had our choice of seats and chose the very front was this wise? Who can say? Wow what a take off that was cool but then the looping in the near dark started and ooh, methinks this was not such a good idea. Am I getting old? Am I losing it? I, who used to ride Space Mountain 4 times n a row could I really be losing my edge? Um, it would appear so. Gavin asked the attendant where the lost and found was so we could go claim our stomachs, and I found the nearest bench and looked like one of those little green people who has just gotten off a coaster in Roller Coaster Tycoon (a computer game we play lots of fun you have to build a park, maintain it, keep the guests happy, etc.). We stop at the Produce stand and buy a coke, and sit there for awhile. Definite decision to postpone Tower of Terror. Gavin asked what I would like to do next my answer: Something slow moving, in air conditioning. So, on to the Great Movie Ride which filled the bill quite nicely. Then the animation tour really neat to see what they have in development and we love seeing the process behind the finished product. Now what did I feel up to hmm, stomach pretty settled now how about lunch? Had a PS for dinner at Hollywood and Vine, but decided to go for lunch instead (Brown Derbys menu has nothing that appeals to Gavin). Boy am I glad we did! Hands down the best character meal ever! Of course, any time Chip & Dale are present, its going to be fun, but the surprise favorite for me: Goofy. First of all, I love how the characters are not in their usual dress: Minnie is in her glamorous gown and Goofy in his suit. And this Goof y was just the best. As he came to our table, he noticed my Texas Mickey pin that I had bought at the Disney Store before coming, in hopes that I could trade it with someone. Well, he kept gesturing for me to put the pin on his lapel; I teased him that I had brought it to trade, and that that wouldnt really be a proper trade, now would it? But he really wanted the pin. I looked at him (the re were no kids around we were several tables away from anyone else) and I said, You must be a pin trader and he nodded yes. He motioned again for me to put the pin on his lapel I asked if he would get in trouble for having something non-standard on his costume he gestured that he didnt care, and so I gave away my pin! Later I went over to the other side of the restaurant (it was so big and only a few families there) and told him I wanted to get his picture so I would have a record of where my pin went he posed nicely pointing to my pin, I thanked him and he kissed my hand, and then went back to my table and got some dessert. Well, the next thing I know, Goofy is sitting next to me with his pin lanyard he went and got his lanyard and is motioning to me to select a pin. I decide on one of Minnie, since this is her character meal (as opposed to Mickey) and it will remind me of this wonderful lunch. Then he motions to me to take a second pin! So I get a 100 years of magic pin thank you Goofy for the magic you gave to us at lunch! Walts magic is still there in the hearts of people like you! All of the characters at this meal were outstanding in their interaction we had a whole thing going with Chip, telling us that hes the angel and Dales the devil, and talking about our dogs with Pluto plus I love the little song/dance that they do all in all a true highlight of the trip.
After lunch we went to see the 1:30 Beauty and the Beast show this is one of my favorite movies (I have 2 versions on Laserdisc one is the unfinished version that showed to such acclaim at the NY film festival before it was released to theaters). The temperature/humidity gauge on the soundboard just in front of us said 90 degrees and 49% humidity gees no wonder Im sweating so much! The pre-show here was really neat an acapella group called 4 for a Dollar and it starts out like they are doing a sounds check they were really good and very entertaining. We loved the B&B show, and after it was over went to the 2:30 Indiana Jones Stunt Show. Lots of people from Texas picked as volunteers even one from Fort Worth! Small world . . .
Next we had our picture made with Sorcerer Mickey, and it was funny just before it was our turn, the attendant came up and redid the snap at the front of Mickeys robe and said something about making sure he was decent Mickey was really cute managed to look embarrassed about having his fly open really funny! Looked for Sully and Mike not out, and then onto the Backlot tour. Boy did we melt in the sun waiting for that tram to get moving this was nice and it was nice to see the street where the Osborne lights are set up at Christmas. We got done with that just in time to see the parade right where it started the little host was pretty funny it was neat how he got the kids involved one even got a Monsters Inc. DVD. I liked the parade but then, Im a parade, fireworks or any other kind of spectacle kind of girl. On to Tatooine Traders for some Star Wars stuff or Neil for driving us to the airport at that ungodly hour.
We decided to get some dinner, and tried Mama Melroses at 5:10 PM with no PS got right in, although there was a definite wait by the time we finished. The food and service were ok not bad at all but nothing I would go out of my way for. I decided to get a temporary tattoo in the Muppet area - how about some Muppet characters? Id have loved to get Kermit I got a very cute little Piglet instead. We watched the Muppets 3-D this is my favorite of all the 3-D movies. There was so little wait we missed the preshow! Then, I decided that my love for Star Tours was such that I would regret not riding it, so off we went our longest queue so far maybe 10 minutes? Turns out I wasnt quite over RnR and had to close my eyes during part of the film In future I will have to try that Mez-stuff that a couple of people on the boards have talked about. On to Sounds Dangerous, just so we could say we did it with a 6 minute wait. Not bad, but nothing I would go out of my way to do I love Drew Carey but thats not really him at his best (wheres Ryan & Colin?).
Checked out our Sorcerer Mickey picture will I ever like any of these pictures? I didnt like the one taken by the photographer when we came this morning either. Oh well.
7:20 headed for seats at Fantasmic wow this sure beats having to carve out a piece of pavement in Disneyland! Gavin realized we were out of film so headed out to get some, but made it back in plenty of time for the show. And well, I have to say, we were both surprised to find ourselves a little disappointed. We both like the Disneyland version better I dont know if the show changes from year to year, or if they are different because of the staging limitations that DL has, but whatever the reason, we liked the DL version better.
We headed with the masses to the exits, and decided to take a bus to Downtown Disney, where we shopped and I do mean shopped! Got the discount by using the AmEx (yeah I knew there was justification somewhere. . .) and got lots of things for us (including a scrapbook) as well as family. At 11 PM we caught the bus to the hotel (or home as I kept calling it
Tomorrow - Epcot - take 3
