Everything Old Is New Again! - A Dec 2010 Trip Report : THE FINAL ENTRY page 45

[IamTrike]

Have you met Launchpad McQuack? That's another rare duck.

 

[FreezinRafiki]

Wow! What a treasure! Can't wait to get home and show this to Molly!

Nah, the treasure was a few days ago at Magic Kingdom. Remember all the pirate stuff? I know we're moving pretty fast here, but try to keep up.

Have you met Launchpad McQuack? That's another rare duck.

No - he's a rare duck indeed. Probably in the same category as Darkwing Duck, though. They send him out into the parks and all the kids are like "Who the Beverly is that?" And all the parents that actually grew up watching him get excited!

 

[KatMark]

Well, since the smoke alarms went off in the hotel at 4:30 this morning and then again at 5 and have been going off and on ever since, I figured I might as well try to catch up on the DIS until I meet my BFF to go shopping all day.

Nice update, Barry. I love all the character photos.

 

[FreezinRafiki]

Well, since the smoke alarms went off in the hotel at 4:30 this morning and then again at 5 and have been going off and on ever since, I figured I might as well try to catch up on the DIS until I meet my BFF to go shopping all day.

Nice update, Barry. I love all the character photos.

Yikes! Where are you staying?

 

[KatMark]

Yikes! Where are you staying?

Now, if you were on my PTR, you would know that.

We are at a LaQuinta in Naples, Florida. My BFF (the food queen porn here on the DIS) is picking me up in an hour and we are going shopping all day while Mark works and then goes to the pool.

 

[FreezinRafiki]

Now, if you were on my PTR, you would know that.

We are at a LaQuinta in Naples, Florida. My BFF (the food queen porn here on the DIS) is picking me up in an hour and we are going shopping all day while Mark works and then goes to the pool.

Yes, I suppose I would. I've never really been a "pre-trip report" kind of guy. I'm sure it's nice and fun and all, but I'd rather read a trip report. Tell me what you did vs. tell me what you plan on doing. If you do a Trip Report, post a link here and I'll certainly join in on that!

 

[KatMark]

Yes, I suppose I would. I've never really been a "pre-trip report" kind of guy. I'm sure it's nice and fun and all, but I'd rather read a trip report. Tell me what you did vs. tell me what you plan on doing. If you do a Trip Report, post a link here and I'll certainly join in on that!

I hear you...but the guys made me do it (Marv,Don,Tim). We've been in Florida since last Saturday and we go home on Sunday.

 

[FreezinRafiki]

At then end of my last entry, we were standing on the monorail platform waiting patiently for the Tronorail to pick us up. Unfortunately, it was Monorail Gold coming around the bend. My new theory - the Tronorail actually runs on a concealed track, parallel to the Epcot line. It never stops and no one actually gets to ride it. Based on all of the trip reports that I've read where people eagerly await a ride on it but it never comes, this is the only plausible explanation.

But that's OK, because Gold picked us up and whisked us quickly through the night over to Epcot and gave us the quick tour of future world as we circled Spaceship Earth. I guess that would have to be orbit Spaceship Earth. It is a spaceship, you know. It says so right in the title.

Either way, the views were fantastic with everything lit up like that. Sorry, no pictures. I was too busy enjoying it live to want to spoil it through a view finder.

After disembarking from the Highway in the Sky, we made our way back into the park. We stopped for a few minutes to organize our stuff and pull out the cold weather gear, which gave the kids ample opportunity to practice their orienteering and map reading skills.

I'm not sure what Madison and Kayden were looking at, but Evan was busy finding all the bathrooms.

Illuminations was still a few hours off and we had some Soarin' FastPasses burning holes in our pockets. But first some of the cool fiber optic sidewalk art.

You're Welcome! Thanks for the ride!


My memory is a bit foggy here and we don't have any photographic evidence, but we may or may not have done another ride on Test Track here. If we did, it was really, really fun.

I know what we did do, however, and that was head over to World Showcase for Illuminations. We found a great spot just in front of one of those stores right at the entrance to WS. It wasn't crowded yet, so we were able to stake out some prime real estate right at the guard rail.

About this time Dave (dvzcerfs) and his family were leaving their meal at Le Cellier. I texted him and let him know where we were. They stopped by and I got to meet his lovely wife and DD. They weren't staying for Illuminations, so we didn't have too much time to chat. Pictures or it didn't happen! Drat, I guess this didn't actually happen either.

Of all of the shows and fireworks we saw during this trip, I think this was my favorite. Not for the content of the show, but because of this:

The ground was pretty cold, so I was sitting on a blanket with Madison on one leg and Evan on the other. For the entire show (Plus the awesome Holiday Tag) we just sat there, snuggled up to keep warm and watched the show.
Best. Show. Ever.

And speaking of the Holiday Tag - wow. Very moving. I plagiarized the heck out of Wikipedia for this because it did such a good job of explaining it:

Immediately after the regular finale a female announcer announces; "And now, at this special time, as we embrace a promise of a new year, we would like to offer one final message."
The song "Let There Be Peace On Earth" is played as the Earth Barge closes. Afterward, there are messages of "Peace on Earth, good will to men" in several languages. When a language is spoken, the pavilion associated with it lights up.
When the American pavilion lights up, Walter Cronkite says, [Edited to Add: Make sure you read this part in your best Walter Cronkite voice. It really adds to the effect] "During this glorious time of year there is one message that rings out around the world in every language. Peace on earth. Good will to men is a wish to hold in our hearts throughout each passing year. A gift of immeasurable value. A treasure being handed down with care, from generation to generation. And so our holiday wish is that everyone, everywhere share in the spirit of the season. Peace on earth, good will to men."
The song continues with an uninterrupted firework display, ending with a loud explosion of fireworks.​

If you've never been to Disney World during the holidays - add it to your bucket list right now.

Everyone was a bit stunned after the show. The finale just seemed to go on and on and get bigger and bigger. Finally, there was the largest simultaneous explosion of fireworks I've ever witnessed, then it was done. Nothing left but smoke on the water.

Then we realized that we needed to high tail it out of there if wanted to be at the vanguard of the wave of people to the bus stop. I did pause briefly to snap this picture of the tree. Clearly there was some camera shake and this is typically a picture I would just delete, but it shook in just the right way that it made the lights look like Mickeys.

As wonderful and joyous as Illuminations made us, the bus stop took it all away. First off, the Saratoga Springs stop is almost the farthest one away, and by the time we get there, it holding pen is almost full. We watch busses come and go for other resorts - some multiple times - before our bus arrives. First they load the people in wheel chairs and ECVs, which of course takes forever. I'm not putting down the people in those vehicles, but it take soooo long to load them. The bus gets packed to the gills and drives off. I lost track of how long it took the next bus to arrive, but I probably could have timed it with a sundial. And it was dark out.

Anyway, same procedure. Load two ECVs, then pack the bus. We did get on this bus, and it started out on the drive to Saratoga Springs. The first stop is at the Grandstand area, where the bus to the Tree House Villas picks up. I'd love to say we hopped off, but as full as that bus was, there was no hopping. We pretty much squeezed off and took a seat to wait for our next bus.

After a few minutes the bus that brought us still hadn't left. We turned around and noticed they were unloading a [redacted]* woman in an ECV.
(*The proper description for this lady's demeanor throughout the loading, busing, and unloading process is not suitable to be printed on a civilized Internet. Let's keep with the Christmas spirit and say that even the Grinch would get sick of this lady and kick her out of his cave)

You ever have one of those feelings where you know - just know - what is going to happen? Well, we knew that as soon as she rolled off the ramp, drove 3 feet and lit up a cigarette that this woman was waiting for the Treehouse Villas bus as well. It took us about 1.7 seconds to come to the conclusion that taking the 1/2 mile hike (I Google Mapped it) at 10:50 pm (time stamp of that picture) in 35° weather (I looked it up - it was a record low for that day in Orlando) was the far better alternative to waiting around with this woman.

And you know what? The kids did great. Absolutely fantastic. We told them that it would be cold, it would be tiring, and it would be a pretty long walk, be we were all going to do it together. Not once did someone whine, complain, or beg to be carried. When we got to the villa, I told them how proud we were of them and that they all earned a cookie. That they could eat tomorrow. Now get to bed.

Up Next: Animal Kingdom and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party!

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

We were making our way clockwise around World Showcase and had just left merry old England, heading over to Canada. I could hear Off Kilter playing was getting pretty excited to see them.

Off Kilter is pretty cool. Not sure I'd play it over and over again on the iPod, but it's a neat sound.

But as we walked past them, we noticed that the gate on the right was open about 1/2 way. I went over to peek in, and what do you suppose I find?

Characters!!!!!

Including the Holy Grail of our Character Quest - but more on him in a bit.

What...is you name? What...is your quest? What...is your favorite character?

Wendell from the Country Bears

They have names?! Wow, you learn something new everyday. I'd probably know more of this if I could bring myself to go into that show. Instead, my kids ask what's in there, and I say, "Uh...I think it's just another gift shop."

And that's when I saw... him. The mythical character only rumored to come around once in a blue moon, never in the same spot twice. Yet, there he was, all the way at the top of the path on the right side. I'm speaking of none other than Goofy's only son, MAX!

Nice work! I like the term "secret character lair". Discovering secret spots at Disney is awesome!

Bolt:

Wow, you found Bolt! I'd better not show Scotty this picture, or he'll force us to go back to find him.

Hey, on second thought...

Why do Evan and I have matching shirts? Because we're awesome, that's why.

Or there was a 2 for 1 deal at the Main Street Emporium.

We were cruising along, happily eating the chicken wings, the noodles, the shrimp and the pork. Madison was slowly picking at her roast pork when the man with the magical meat skewers came around asking if anyone wanted some steak. All of a sudden that piece of pork on Madison's plate few off, landed on Grandpa's plate and her hand shot up, waving "me! me!" So if anyone is keeping track STEAK > PORK in Madison's world.

As it should be in anyone's world. Nice work, Dad.

I have never eaten at Ohana. Obviously, my life is not yet complete. Endless meat sounds wonderful.

No matter how much I played with the settings on my camera, I just couldn't capture how awesome this sight was. There was a bit of a fog in the air and it reflected and glowed with all of the lights from the castle, the train station, the ferry and all of the resorts. This is the best that I could come up with.

Looks pretty cool to me!

As for the Holy Grail of Characters Quest, I say we nominate Perry the Platypus.

I second this one.

Thanks. She'll even eat steak at home now because it reminds her of Ohana!

Ohana means family. And family means no steak gets left behind.

 

[trennr]

I'm not sure what Madison and Kayden were looking at, but Evan was busy finding all the bathrooms.

Cool...the Imagination Logo!!!!

About this time Dave (dvzcerfs) and his family were leaving their meal at Le Cellier. I texted him and let him know where we were. They stopped by and I got to meet his lovely wife and DD. They weren't staying for Illuminations, so we didn't have too much time to chat. Pictures or it didn't happen! Drat, I guess this didn't actually happen either.

No Picture...didn't happen.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

My new theory - the Tronorail actually runs on a concealed track, parallel to the Epcot line. It never stops and no one actually gets to ride it. Based on all of the trip reports that I've read where people eagerly await a ride on it but it never comes, this is the only plausible explanation.

I will co-sign this theory.

But that's OK, because Gold picked us up and whisked us quickly through the night over to Epcot and gave us the quick tour of future world as we circled Spaceship Earth. I guess that would have to be orbit Spaceship Earth. It is a spaceship, you know. It says so right in the title.

Either way, the views were fantastic with everything lit up like that. Sorry, no pictures. I was too busy enjoying it live to want to spoil it through a view finder.

I love that trip around Epcot, especially at night. So glad they built the track that way. I've been there on weekends a couple of times without park tickets, and I've still ridden the monorail just to do that loop around the park.

My memory is a bit foggy here and we don't have any photographic evidence, but we may or may not have done another ride on Test Track here. If we did, it was really, really fun.

Well, the default setting on that ride is "awesome". You'd probably remember it more if it had been anything but.

Of all of the shows and fireworks we saw during this trip, I think this was my favorite. Not for the content of the show, but because of this:

The ground was pretty cold, so I was sitting on a blanket with Madison on one leg and Evan on the other. For the entire show (Plus the awesome Holiday Tag) we just sat there, snuggled up to keep warm and watched the show.
Best. Show. Ever.

Heaven On Earth (noun): 1. A state of pure bliss, rarely achieved. See above picture.

When the American pavilion lights up, Walter Cronkite says, [Edited to Add: Make sure you read this part in your best Walter Cronkite voice. It really adds to the effect]

I tried, and somebody just stuck their head over the cube wall to ask if I felt like I was going to vomit or something.

If you've never been to Disney World during the holidays - add it to your bucket list right now.

Done! I think it was already there, though. The holiday tag sounds fantastic.

(checking list) Yup, here it is. Between "see the Northern Lights" and "Sneak over fence to play back 9 at Augusta National".

The finale just seemed to go on and on and get bigger and bigger. Finally, there was the largest simultaneous explosion of fireworks I've ever witnessed, then it was done.

Explosions rock. That is all.

Clearly there was some camera shake and this is typically a picture I would just delete, but it shook in just the right way that it made the lights look like Mickeys.

Very cool!

First they load the people in wheel chairs and ECVs, which of course takes forever. I'm not putting down the people in those vehicles, but it take soooo long to load them. The bus gets packed to the gills and drives off. I lost track of how long it took the next bus to arrive, but I probably could have timed it with a sundial. And it was dark out.

You ever have one of those feelings where you know - just know - what is going to happen? Well, we knew that as soon as she rolled off the ramp, drove 3 feet and lit up a cigarette that this woman was waiting for the Treehouse Villas bus as well. It took us about 1.7 seconds to come to the conclusion that taking the 1/2 mile hike (I Google Mapped it) at 10:50 pm (time stamp of that picture) in 35° weather (I looked it up - it was a record low for that day in Orlando) was the far better alternative to waiting around with this woman.

Sounds like a good call. A minute spent with Grinch Lady is a minute wasted.

And you know what? The kids did great. Absolutely fantastic. We told them that it would be cold, it would be tiring, and it would be a pretty long walk, be we were all going to do it together. Not once did someone whine, complain, or beg to be carried. When we got to the villa, I told them how proud we were of them and that they all earned a cookie.

Good work kids!

That they could eat tomorrow. Now get to bed.

 

[afwdwfan]

Either way, the views were fantastic with everything lit up like that. Sorry, no pictures. I was too busy enjoying it live to want to spoil it through a view finder.

No apologies needed. I'd expect you to apologize if you were too caught up in the picture taking to step back and just soak in the views.

We stopped for a few minutes to organize our stuff and pull out the cold weather gear, which gave the kids ample opportunity to practice their orienteering and map reading skills.

I'm glad to see they were able to take their pirate know how with them to EPCOT!

My memory is a bit foggy here and we don't have any photographic evidence, but we may or may not have done another ride on Test Track here. If we did, it was really, really fun.

I'm shocked...

We found a great spot just in front of one of those stores right at the entrance to WS. It wasn't crowded yet, so we were able to stake out some prime real estate right at the guard rail.

One of my favorite places to watch illuminations.

Of all of the shows and fireworks we saw during this trip, I think this was my favorite. Not for the content of the show, but because of this:

Great picture! Way to be a good dad and serve as the layer of insulation between the cold ground and the kids.

After a few minutes the bus that brought us still hadn't left. We turned around and noticed they were unloading a [redacted]* woman in an ECV.
(*The proper description for this lady's demeanor throughout the loading, busing, and unloading process is not suitable to be printed on a civilized Internet. Let's keep with the Christmas spirit and say that even the Grinch would get sick of this lady and kick her out of his cave)

Sorry about your run in with the offspring of the Grinch and Maleficent. At least you had the option and ability to walk the rest of the way to keep her from making your evening too much more miserable.

When we got to the villa, I told them how proud we were of them and that they all earned a cookie. That they could eat tomorrow. Now get to bed.

That is just cruel. No sugar before bed??? On vacation??? That isn't right.

 

[chloe770]

At then end of my last entry, we were standing on the monorail platform waiting patiently for the Tronorail to pick us up. Unfortunately, it was Monorail Gold coming around the bend. My new theory - the Tronorail actually runs on a concealed track, parallel to the Epcot line. It never stops and no one actually gets to ride it. Based on all of the trip reports that I've read where people eagerly await a ride on it but it never comes, this is the only plausible explanation.

Sorry to blow a hole in your theory but DS and I actually had a chance to ride on both Tronorails last May. I can tell you those were spectacular rides

I didn't know that there was a special ending during the holiday for Illuminations. A holiday trip was already on my bucket list but that just adds to the reasons why I should actually just book it.

I also agree with Perry for your Holy Grail Character quest and am going to add Huey, Duey, and Louie.

 

[E3yore]

Nah, the treasure was a few days ago at Magic Kingdom. Remember all the pirate stuff? I know we're moving pretty fast here, but try to keep up.

Molly, I give you permission to come up with a very sever consequence for this very bad behavior.

 

[that's nice]

Molly, I give you permission to come up with a very sever consequence for this very bad behavior.

Barry, I'd grab a cup if I were you!

 

[FreezinRafiki]

They have names?! Wow, you learn something new everyday. I'd probably know more of this if I could bring myself to go into that show. Instead, my kids ask what's in there, and I say, "Uh...I think it's just another gift shop."

Oh yeah. Wendell, Henry,Liver Lips, Trixie, Big Al. And believe it or not, it empties out into a gift shop! (it's actually a candy store, but you can still spend money, so it's a horse a piece)

Nice work! I like the term "secret character lair". Discovering secret spots at Disney is awesome!

It could only be awesomer if it were a secret volcano lair or a secret undersea lair.

Wow, you found Bolt! I'd better not show Scotty this picture, or he'll force us to go back to find him.

Hey, on second thought...

I think I see where you're going with this...

Or there was a 2 for 1 deal at the Main Street Emporium.

Could have been. Those were both Christmas Presents from Bambi's parents. And it was a total coincidence that we wore them on the same day.

I have never eaten at Ohana. Obviously, my life is not yet complete. Endless meat sounds wonderful.

Nirvana. Utopia. Valhalla. What do these places have in common? Very large grills.

Looks pretty cool to me!

Thanks!

Ohana means family. And family means no steak gets left behind.

I thought that line sounded a bit off in Lilo and Stitch. I'm going to dub in your corrected version when I get home tonight.

No Picture...didn't happen.

Bummer. And he was such a nice guy too.

 

[trennr]

Ohana means family. And family means no steak gets left behind.

I thought that line sounded a bit off in Lilo and Stitch. I'm going to dub in your corrected version when I get home tonight.

Shouldn't that be...

Ohana means family. And family means no steak gets left behind. Or uneaten.

 

[FreezinRafiki]

I will co-sign this theory.

Great! It's always nice to know I'm not alone in my delusions.

I love that trip around Epcot, especially at night. So glad they built the track that way. I've been there on weekends a couple of times without park tickets, and I've still ridden the monorail just to do that loop around the park.

The worst part is that it's basically a big tease. They take you almost halfway into the park, then all the way back to the parking lot where you have to get off and walk for 10 minutes before you're back to where you just were. But I forgive them, because it's Disney.

Well, the default setting on that ride is "awesome". You'd probably remember it more if it had been anything but.

Very true.

Heaven On Earth (noun): 1. A state of pure bliss, rarely achieved. See above picture.

If I ever need a pick me up at work, I fire up the Illuminations soundtrack and dig out that picture.

I tried, and somebody just stuck their head over the cube wall to ask if I felt like I was going to vomit or something.

I claim no responsibility if his ghost starts haunting you for defiling him like that.

Done! I think it was already there, though. The holiday tag sounds fantastic.

(checking list) Yup, here it is. Between "see the Northern Lights" and "Sneak over fence to play back 9 at Augusta National".

I hear the Richmond County Jail has it's own "Amen Corner". But it has nothing to do with golf.

Explosions rock. That is all.

Nothing else needed.

Sounds like a good call. A minute spent with Grinch Lady is a minute wasted.

I'm glad to see they were able to take their pirate know how with them to EPCOT!

Alas, they couldn't find any buried treasure. But that's OK, no one remembered to bring the shovel anyway.

One of my favorite places to watch illuminations.

We've also stood on the bridge between England and France. That's a pretty nice spot too.

Great picture! Way to be a good dad and serve as the layer of insulation between the cold ground and the kids.

Thanks. You know the saying "that's just what we do!"

Sorry about your run in with the offspring of the Grinch and Maleficent. At least you had the option and ability to walk the rest of the way to keep her from making your evening too much more miserable.

It's a good thing I took that walk earlier in the vacation. I'd hate to have to be searching for the path under those circumstances.

That is just cruel. No sugar before bed??? On vacation??? That isn't right.

No one complained about it. They were all exhausted and ready for bed anyway.

 

[FreezinRafiki]

Sorry to blow a hole in your theory but DS and I actually had a chance to ride on both Tronorails last May. I can tell you those were spectacular rides

Hmmmmmm....I'm still skeptical. You could be an agent of Disney's PR team sent here to seed false hope that people can actually ride it.

I didn't know that there was a special ending during the holiday for Illuminations. A holiday trip was already on my bucket list but that just adds to the reasons why I should actually just book it.

You won't be disappointed.

I also agree with Perry for your Holy Grail Character quest and am going to add Huey, Duey, and Louie.

Those guys would be awesome, but do they actually exist? I've gone through several websites of pictures of every sort of random character greeting and I don't think I've seen those three...

Molly, I give you permission to come up with a very sever consequence for this very bad behavior.

Ooooooor, Molly. I'll buy you a Mickey Ice Cream bar if you don't.

Barry, I'd grab a cup if I were you!

Nah, what could an 8 year old girl do that's so bad...........


Better make it a cup and one of those police dog training suits.

Shouldn't that be...

Ohana means family. And family means no steak gets left behind. Or uneaten.

Amendment has been noted and approved.

 

[dvczerfs]

great update barry. i remember when i could sit on the cold ground like that and get away with it. i think this was the night we had met up at epcot. i remember it was coooooled. the tronorail was just a film that was over the monorail that when it hit the station, turned back into one of the reg. momorails.ive never talked to anyone who was on that thing.