During Our trip sort of TR thingy!

[Akdar]

I have posted many more pix from this trip that are not directly linked from my reports on Photobucket. If anyone wants to check them out in their entirety here is the link

http://s162.photobucket.com/albums/t247/riprufus/May 08/

OK, I'm going to post as I go here in Orlando, I have a few pics from Friday, and I took over 200 yesterday, so I'll just post a few for now, as we're heading out for breakfast any minute. If you lovely people remember, I wasn't born with the trip reporting gene, but I'll do what I can!

We went from this and this. halfway there to this!

I love when sitting where I can see the wing do this.

We're heading out for some breakfast, probably Ihop, I love that place, I'll be back with more later. Took 200 pics yesterday, so I have to go through them, edit them for the internet, decide what I want to use, and get them up here!


Weather is co-operating so far!!!!

 

[jakuch]

Looking forward to your trip report. Your photos are great, so far.

Karen

 

[bubba's mom]

Lucky.....it was miserable rain like that all day until about 7pm...sun came out just in time to set

You didn't miss anything here!

Have a great time!!

 

[Akdar]

OK, it's Sunday night, I'm back for a little more mid trip, trip reporting.
After arriving we got our rent-a-car at Dollar, only $168 for 10 days for an economy car, that's the least I have ever paid renting a car down here. We drove to the condo It's called Westgate Palace, very nice, and it's so close to the parks you can see them from the window by the elevator, here's the (zoomed out version)

We went to Publix for some supplies and then hung out for a bit. Then we went to the Citywalk Cineplex to see Ironman, I thought it was the best of all the Marvel movies

 

[Akdar]

Early Monday on a bright and sunny day here in Orlando! (I do not miss the dreary weather I left in PA )
Anyway, Sat we did the Simpsons AP preview, I put some pics on Todd's report on the ride, he did a great job, so I just added a few photos to his TR. sorry I missed you Todd, with us not getting there until 8:30 Saturday morning, that messed up the plans, oh well there will be HHN18!!!!
After the Simpsons ride we went on the Mummy (this is Sherry's fav ride out of both the parks) I was a bit surprised that the locker was only free for 1/2 hour!!! I know it was earlier in the day, I think it was about 9:30ish when we got to the Mummy. We don't have EPs yet as we're not at the HRH until Friday the 16th. We barely made it back to our locker. It is $2 for anything from 1/2 hour to an hour, not sure how it goes up after that. The thing that kind of irritated me was, if those free times don't change later in the day, on a Saturday, without EP, you are guaranteed to be paying to store your bag!!! I know for a fact it was at least an hour free to start last October.......hmmmm..... It's not that I have a problem paying 2 bucks, it's the principal that they are making you store your stuff (even sometimes fanny packs from what I've heard) so they should not make you pay to store them, at least not for the duration of that particular ride!) Well, maybe the free time gets longer as the day goes on, I will definitely be checking that while I am here. Today (Monday) is pretty much IOA day, so I probably won't be at the studios at all today, but we know how that can change in an instant

Back to Saturday, after the Mummy we wanted a drink and a snack, but none of the stands or carts were open for a soda and a pretzel???? It's Saturday, 10AM on the dot, and we had to go to Mel's, and they were just opening at about 10:10. So we split a hamburger and a large soda. Then we saw this girl, who wouldn't stop staring at me, I think she digs me She wasn't bad looking and all, but I was with my wife, she could have been more discreet, I don't care how many presidents she knew
We then went on Shrek, that was not even a 10 minute wait, because they had both theaters open already, good move on their part. We sat in the 2nd row from the back, and I swear the 3D was better back there, I don't know, maybe it's just me getting old and I'm not remembering October all that clearly?? We strolled back towards the Simpsons to get our free squishees, since we weren't in the mood for them earlier, I was taking random pix with my new camera, I was experimenting with settings and stuff, I like having a camera with more manual settings, (Canon Digital Rebel Xsi with the kit lens, didn't have the $$ for the lens I REALLY wanted) I just don't know enough about them yet. A few of the pix are here and here
The lagoon has been Neutered, I actually wrote something else, but I don't want to get in trouble again and get booted out of here
OK, have to run, I hear IOA calling me! Be back later, hope you guys are liking my version of a TR!

 

[Motherfletcher]

Then we went to the Citywalk Cineplex to see Ironman, I thought it was the best of all the Marvel movies

Did you watch it in the DLP theater?

 

[Akdar]

Did you watch it in the DLP theater?

No, we didn't feel like waiting another 45 min to an hour it would have been for the next start time for the DLP theater. Does is make that much of a difference that you know of? I'd go see it again, I liked it that much!

 

[Motherfletcher]

My son went and wants to go again. There were reports on here that the theater itself is better (2nd floor). A buddy who is a real Marvel/ comic book geek loved it and says its the best so far.

 

[tlinus]

Great job, Mike!!

I love your "live reports"

Got to tell me if the little bar called Alcatraz is open. Its caddy corner from Disaster on Fisherman's Wharf. If so, tell them they need to be open the last week of May (it is open seasonally) we love happy hour there having some peel and eat shrimp and hanging on the dock

 

[Akdar]

Will check on that tomorrow for ya, it is going to be a mostly Studios day, as today was IOA day (TR to come soon!)

I have to say, today was close to perfect! Mid 80s, hardly any humidity, not a cloud in the sky, and the place was mostly dead, did a lot of rides in IOA! Will officially report on it later.

After such an awesome day we are watching T2 on AMC on an awesome flat screen plasma here in the condo, being the Sci-Fi geeks we are, it doesn't get much better than this

Will try to catch up soon with my live report, took a PLETHORA (I love that word) of pix today to sort through!

Good night all! Be back soon!

Mike & Sherry

 

[chrissyc]

Thanks for the report! It is now 12:30 in the morning and we are leaving for the airport at 3:30 am so 3 more hours. Maybe I will see you there!

 

[Akdar]

OK, trying to remember how Saturday went after I got some lagoon shots, I think we just walked around and took in the atmosphere, as the weather was excellent, a little hot, but excellent just the same. I was a little shocked at the amount of people in line for Disaster already, this was right around noon. Here's a pic for you Lucy fans. I was a "real man" on this day, I opened a bottle of water for my wife and ripped up my fingernail pretty good. Of course I had to take a picture of it, and milk it for all that it's worth Next up, Lunch at Margaritaville

 

[bubba's mom]

Why does it look like Dan Akroyd with Lucy and a MIB guy driving?






(sorry you gots a boo-boo Mike)

 

[RVGal]

The lagoon has been Neutered, I actually wrote something else, but I don't want to get in trouble again and get booted out of here

You mean they... ummm... removed the spheres from the lagoon?

I had to think awhile to come up with that.

 

[lwilliam]

Lots of Berks County, PA people on this thread, including me.....
LOVED seeing Lucy, since I happen to be Lucy and I Love Lucy being my FAVORITE show of all times (wonder why)
We are heading to RPR in July for 3 nights, can't wait - I don't even like rides, but LOVE the resort and the parks.
What a GREAT deal on the rental car - I hope we can find such a deal.
Thanks again for the reports.

 

[Akdar]

Lunch at Margaritaville was a lot of fun, we ate at the bar, as there was a 35 wait for a table at the time. I had the chicken sandwich and Sherry had a burger, simple, but VERY good. Sherry even had a margarita, and I can count on both hands the amount of drinks she has had since I know her (23 years now) so this was an occasion to say the least, which made me happy!

So we headed back up to IOA, took some random shots
Here
Here
Here
and Here

So ya know how sometimes ya just strike up a conversation with someone, and it clicks. Well, up my DD I got to talking with a guy about my HHN lanyard I was wearing (now, this guy looks familiar, but I can't quite place him???) then he tells me who he is, and it all comes together, he played Rocky Horror in the Rocky Horror Picture show Tribute at HHN17! His name is Ryan, and he is the coolest guy. Here's the 2 of us Now here we are playing around with is son, Jackson. We had a blast, and I have a new friend here in Orlando. We talked about the music business and things that we've done over the years (played in bands, recording ect....) overall great guy, and we have already communicated through email since that Saturday, I think we will stay in touch. He works full time at Disney doing voices and characters, I just can't think of which ones right now. So After that, we went home and chilled at the Condo for the night. I'll be back with more when I can!

 

[Akdar]

Great job, Mike!!

I love your "live reports"

Got to tell me if the little bar called Alcatraz is open. Its caddy corner from Disaster on Fisherman's Wharf. If so, tell them they need to be open the last week of May (it is open seasonally) we love happy hour there having some peel and eat shrimp and hanging on the dock

Alcatraz wasn't open, and there weren't any signs to help us out with info, but we'll keep checking for ya!

 

[tlinus]

Alcatraz wasn't open, and there weren't any signs to help us out with info, but we'll keep checking for ya!

Thanks Mike

Dang - can't believe it was closed

 

[bubba's mom]

Thanks Mike

Dang - can't believe it was closed

You could always detour into the 'chocolate' place next door


How neat to run into a HHN TM Mike! Glad you made a new friend....friends like that are good..... and, that dude is ripped!

I think his upper arms are bigger than my thigh!
oh, and btw,

tell Sherry to try the blue margarita (i forget the name, but it's yummy!!)

 

[Akdar]

You could always detour into the 'chocolate' place next door
How neat to run into a HHN TM Mike! Glad you made a new friend....friends like that are good..... and, that dude is ripped!

I think his upper arms are bigger than my thigh!
oh, and btw,

tell Sherry to try the blue margarita (i forget the name, but it's yummy!!)

He was telling me during the run of the show, he was down to like 3 or 4% body fat, damn , that takes some serious dedication!

Will tell Sherry about the margarita, we're going to try and get there again before the vaca is over! We did Lombard's on Tuesday, went easy today with Richters's for lunch, then Ponderosa for Dinner. I know the Ponderosas can be hit or miss, but whoever cooked my Fillet Mignon, was on the money, it was excellent!