The Cast:
Me - 50 - aka ABFine - Father
Marie - 49 - Wife & Mother
Sarah - 19 - Daughter & Student
Our Priors:
1980 - Off-Site
1982 - Contemporary
1987 - Polynesian ( Sarah's First Trip )
1989 - Grand Floridian
1992 - Beach Club
1994 - Beach Club
1995 - Dixie Landings / Beach Club / Vero Beach
1996 - BoardWalk Inn
1997 - Wilderness Lodge / Beach Club
1999 - Disneyland Paris
2000 - BoardWalk Inn
2003 - Polynesian / BoardWalk Inn
Hello again, dear readers, thanks for staying, this is alot of work. Happy work, but work all the same.
Haven't received any replies yet as to when Vero Beach opened. Anyone?
Up around 7:00. " Sarah, want to go to the gym?" " No, I want to sleep." That's my girl! Showers and head out for Spoodles.
Sarah & Marie - Veggie Omelet
Me - Ham & cheese Omelet
Juice & side of sausage..........$36.00 w/ tip
The girls head for MGM, I'm going to get the car. Make my way through EPCOT and as I'm nearing the exit I see the monorail pulling into the station. Darn, don't want to miss it, I know it'll be a 20 minute wait for the next. I start my OJ through the airport impression, bob left, weave right, hurdle the small children. I get through the turnstile and head up the LONG ramp. Yikes, four senior citizens, four abreast, going up the ramp. I'm brought to a complete stand-still. Not to worry, they see us coming, they'll wait.
Yup, no problem there, they'll wait. I get on a completely empty car and grab a seat. I'm sweating and I'm waiting. And waiting, and waiting, oh here come a few more people up the ramp, they must be waiting for them... They get on, we're waiting, and waiting... Oh, here comes a few more...we're waiting, and waiting.............This goes on for 15 minutes. Finally, the Captain, Driver, Pilot, Starship Commander, whatever he is gets on the intercom and says we'll be leaving as soon as the monorail leaving the T&T center is close enough to complete the morning "Safety Check"..... Sure enough, a few minutes later, I see the other monorail coming in from the T&T. It circles the park and then, we leave. Just a thought but, hey, I've got an idea here. How about we do the "Safety Check" at say, oh, I don't know, maybe 8:30??? You know, like before we inconvience like hundreds of paying guests. Do you really need hundreds of tourists on board before we can see if the "Safety Check" is going to work. You can't make this stuff up.
I exit at the T&T and make my way to the kennel. That's where the car care picks up and drops off. Go figure. At least they give you a ride. Yeah Disney, I'm still pissed. Drive back to Boardwalk and pay to park.
Forgot to mention the security upgrades. Security at Poly wanted picture ID's. I did pack our passports but had left them in the luggage, in the trunk. I had another picture ID in my wallet but my wife did not. ( Reservation was in her name ). But since our last name matched we were admitted. Boardwalk only checked our reservation, no ID required. Hope I'm not getting anyone in trouble. We're clean cut American types. OK, I have a beard and my hair sometimes gets a little long. I never belonged to the Communist Party and I never inhaled, I swear.
Make my way to the dock and get the boat to MGM. Ok, this thing has to be capable of more speed than this. Call the girls and arrange a meeting place. It's like 11:00 already. Have 12:30 PS at Brown Derby. Went to Millionaire first in the stand by line. Waited maybe 15 minutes and just missed getting in, maybe like 10 more people in front of us. Got a fastpass. Had time for one ride on TOT. Nothing like it before lunch. Went to Brown Derby.
Sarah & Marie - Thai noodle stir fry
Me - BBQ Chicken Salad....1 Beer....$42.00 w/ tip
Ran out without dessert when we realized we could still make the 1:10 Millionaire. We liked it, lot of fun. I think I had two wrong the whole time, just not that fast. Old age setting in. They only had two contestants, one got to like the 1000 point level, the other to the 125,000. Enjoyed it!
Saw a thing for getting your picture with Lilo & Stitch. Sarah loves that movie, so off we went. Needless to say, she was the oldest "kid" in line. Know what I liked? She didn't care. I took pictures, they took a picture. Bought their's, just got mine back today, nice also.
Which brings up another sore point, not for me but for Sarah. Several times she was given a child's menu when we went to eat. She may be short, like 5 foot, but she does not have the face or body of a child. Take a second to look people.
Did TOT yet again. Priceless moment. Girl about five years old seated next to me. I look over in one of the last moments when there's still light and say " You're not going to scream, are you?"
She gives a tentative smile and shakes her head , NO! Well. I guess blood curdling would best describe it
Got a fastpass for R&R coaster, went to, you guessed it, TOT again, walk on. Went to Beauty & Beast show. Marie wanted to see it. I have to give her her propers, she was a trooper. Sat and waited for us as we did the rides and never complained. This Bud's for you, sit on the bench and hold all the stuff while your husband and kid have all the fun, girl.
Had a little time before R&R fastpass so went to TOT again, walk on. Back to R&R. Good time was had by all.
Back to room to get ready for dinner. Flying Fish tonight.
Sarah & Marie - Crab Cake Appetizer
Red Snapper
Me - Crab Cake
Mahi - Mahi
Banana Napolian & Creme Brulee
Two glasses of wine w/ dinner......$160.00 w/ tip
A few years back when we ate here it was great, now, I'd pass. Nothing special, the Crab Cake was highly recommended by the waiter, so - so by our standards. Also, the Red Snapper is the supposedly " Signature Dish". Better get a new signature, mine was just ok. Won't be back.
Went to EPCOT for Illumnations. Mini rant here. This is the second night in a row that our favorite viewing area, in front of Italy , has been blocked off. What makes this small group of people more important than us? I'm a paying customer, I don't remember reading anything about areas of EPCOT being closed to the unwashed masses. They want private viewing, let them rent a boat like everyone else.
Back to Boardwalk, Marie went up, me and Sare hung at Big River Grille for awhile. Lob a Lobster doing well again, I wonder if they franchise? Tired, Good Night.
Me - 50 - aka ABFine - Father
Marie - 49 - Wife & Mother
Sarah - 19 - Daughter & Student
Our Priors:
1980 - Off-Site
1982 - Contemporary
1987 - Polynesian ( Sarah's First Trip )
1989 - Grand Floridian
1992 - Beach Club
1994 - Beach Club
1995 - Dixie Landings / Beach Club / Vero Beach
1996 - BoardWalk Inn
1997 - Wilderness Lodge / Beach Club
1999 - Disneyland Paris
2000 - BoardWalk Inn
2003 - Polynesian / BoardWalk Inn
Hello again, dear readers, thanks for staying, this is alot of work. Happy work, but work all the same.
Haven't received any replies yet as to when Vero Beach opened. Anyone?
Up around 7:00. " Sarah, want to go to the gym?" " No, I want to sleep." That's my girl! Showers and head out for Spoodles.
Sarah & Marie - Veggie Omelet
Me - Ham & cheese Omelet
Juice & side of sausage..........$36.00 w/ tip
The girls head for MGM, I'm going to get the car. Make my way through EPCOT and as I'm nearing the exit I see the monorail pulling into the station. Darn, don't want to miss it, I know it'll be a 20 minute wait for the next. I start my OJ through the airport impression, bob left, weave right, hurdle the small children. I get through the turnstile and head up the LONG ramp. Yikes, four senior citizens, four abreast, going up the ramp. I'm brought to a complete stand-still. Not to worry, they see us coming, they'll wait.
Yup, no problem there, they'll wait. I get on a completely empty car and grab a seat. I'm sweating and I'm waiting. And waiting, and waiting, oh here come a few more people up the ramp, they must be waiting for them... They get on, we're waiting, and waiting... Oh, here comes a few more...we're waiting, and waiting.............This goes on for 15 minutes. Finally, the Captain, Driver, Pilot, Starship Commander, whatever he is gets on the intercom and says we'll be leaving as soon as the monorail leaving the T&T center is close enough to complete the morning "Safety Check"..... Sure enough, a few minutes later, I see the other monorail coming in from the T&T. It circles the park and then, we leave. Just a thought but, hey, I've got an idea here. How about we do the "Safety Check" at say, oh, I don't know, maybe 8:30??? You know, like before we inconvience like hundreds of paying guests. Do you really need hundreds of tourists on board before we can see if the "Safety Check" is going to work. You can't make this stuff up.
I exit at the T&T and make my way to the kennel. That's where the car care picks up and drops off. Go figure. At least they give you a ride. Yeah Disney, I'm still pissed. Drive back to Boardwalk and pay to park.
Forgot to mention the security upgrades. Security at Poly wanted picture ID's. I did pack our passports but had left them in the luggage, in the trunk. I had another picture ID in my wallet but my wife did not. ( Reservation was in her name ). But since our last name matched we were admitted. Boardwalk only checked our reservation, no ID required. Hope I'm not getting anyone in trouble. We're clean cut American types. OK, I have a beard and my hair sometimes gets a little long. I never belonged to the Communist Party and I never inhaled, I swear.
Make my way to the dock and get the boat to MGM. Ok, this thing has to be capable of more speed than this. Call the girls and arrange a meeting place. It's like 11:00 already. Have 12:30 PS at Brown Derby. Went to Millionaire first in the stand by line. Waited maybe 15 minutes and just missed getting in, maybe like 10 more people in front of us. Got a fastpass. Had time for one ride on TOT. Nothing like it before lunch. Went to Brown Derby.
Sarah & Marie - Thai noodle stir fry
Me - BBQ Chicken Salad....1 Beer....$42.00 w/ tip
Ran out without dessert when we realized we could still make the 1:10 Millionaire. We liked it, lot of fun. I think I had two wrong the whole time, just not that fast. Old age setting in. They only had two contestants, one got to like the 1000 point level, the other to the 125,000. Enjoyed it!
Saw a thing for getting your picture with Lilo & Stitch. Sarah loves that movie, so off we went. Needless to say, she was the oldest "kid" in line. Know what I liked? She didn't care. I took pictures, they took a picture. Bought their's, just got mine back today, nice also.
Which brings up another sore point, not for me but for Sarah. Several times she was given a child's menu when we went to eat. She may be short, like 5 foot, but she does not have the face or body of a child. Take a second to look people.
Did TOT yet again. Priceless moment. Girl about five years old seated next to me. I look over in one of the last moments when there's still light and say " You're not going to scream, are you?"
She gives a tentative smile and shakes her head , NO! Well. I guess blood curdling would best describe it
Got a fastpass for R&R coaster, went to, you guessed it, TOT again, walk on. Went to Beauty & Beast show. Marie wanted to see it. I have to give her her propers, she was a trooper. Sat and waited for us as we did the rides and never complained. This Bud's for you, sit on the bench and hold all the stuff while your husband and kid have all the fun, girl.
Had a little time before R&R fastpass so went to TOT again, walk on. Back to R&R. Good time was had by all.
Back to room to get ready for dinner. Flying Fish tonight.
Sarah & Marie - Crab Cake Appetizer
Red Snapper
Me - Crab Cake
Mahi - Mahi
Banana Napolian & Creme Brulee
Two glasses of wine w/ dinner......$160.00 w/ tip
A few years back when we ate here it was great, now, I'd pass. Nothing special, the Crab Cake was highly recommended by the waiter, so - so by our standards. Also, the Red Snapper is the supposedly " Signature Dish". Better get a new signature, mine was just ok. Won't be back.
Went to EPCOT for Illumnations. Mini rant here. This is the second night in a row that our favorite viewing area, in front of Italy , has been blocked off. What makes this small group of people more important than us? I'm a paying customer, I don't remember reading anything about areas of EPCOT being closed to the unwashed masses. They want private viewing, let them rent a boat like everyone else.
Back to Boardwalk, Marie went up, me and Sare hung at Big River Grille for awhile. Lob a Lobster doing well again, I wonder if they franchise? Tired, Good Night.
