Extreme Commando "Shock and Awe" Campaign (Report completed)

[Ana~n~Joseph]

Love your trip report!

 

[Baghdad Bob]

Great pictures, and awesome report

 

[thptrek]

Thanks everyone and I am glad you are enjoying the report. I like writing the report because it helps me relive a great vacation.

 

[tlinus]

Trek,

I am speechless! (yeah yeah yeah - hard to believe, right?!)

This trip report is fantastic!!! I love the pictures and WOW what a view from the balcony!!!

You know, I am leaving in 15 days - you will have the mission report completed by then, right??!!??

Seriously - great job and looking forward to more.

 

[LindaBabe]

Terrific report and I really appreciate the way you are staying in Character, yourself!

 

[thptrek]

I'll have it done by the time you leave. I only have our last day and the Commander's Personal Log to finish up. You are going to have a great time. Where are you staying? Lol.

 

[thptrek]

I found this picture taken by Alabamagirl that shows what I was talking about regarding Splash Mountain and the location of the soaking. If a log was coming down the hill the people in this photo would get the cannon blast. It also seems that about every third blast is a heavy blast.

 

[kindakrazy2]

Loving you trip report! I've even got DH reading along at work! Can't wait to hear about the last day of your trip! Thanks so much for doing this!

 

[50 years Too!]

Loving your report!
In my unit I'm the commander. Would love to relinquish power to a more suitable leader. My second in command hasn't even passed boot camp! I can dream, I guess.

 

[thptrek]

It can be tough being a Commander but someone has to do it for the good of the whole outfit.

 

[thptrek]

I am working on new update and should be able to have it up tonight.

 

[Mkrop]

subscribing

 

[thptrek]

**Retransmitting Day 6 Briefing**
********************************

Daily Debriefing March 15 (Day 6) – Animal Kingdom Mission

Today’s mission was Animal Kingdom. In reality it was to ride Expedition Everest. Generally speaking we are not big fans of the Animal Kingdom. I know that many folks love the AK but we are not in that group. However, EE beckoned us. Why? Because it is there.

We did our morning SOP and headed out to wait for the AK bus. If I could have a wish it would be for monorails to all the parks. Since Disney is not going to be spending billions on monorails anytime soon, we boarded the bus.

There was not a big crowd waiting for rope drop but 99.99% of the people head for EE. Commander and Private DS were the team’s FP runners. They would obtain the EE FPs and rendezvous with the other team members at Kilimanjaro Safari.

The opening run for EE FPs is not for the faint of heart. It was blur of people with Summit Fever.

Commander and Private DS bobbed, ducked, and weaved their way through the crowd and had about a 15 min wait at the FP machines. The standby line for the ride was instantly 50 mins!!! We’ll be back later to ride EE and met up with the team at KS.

Kilimanjaro Safari ride is a great attraction. Sometimes there are more animals than other times but it is a bunch of fun. We saw a lot of the animals and had a very good CM. He pointed out a lot of animals and had some interesting facts about them to share. We saved Little Red. Is it me or is the runway they land the plane on very short!

After Safari something was bugging us so we decided to see It’s Tough to be a Bug. MIL and FIL had never seen this attraction and really liked it. A small girl seating near the Commander did not think the show was fun at all. When Hopper had the black widow spiders attack she lost it. Her mom was quick and whisked her away and out the door. Still, I am sure she is scarred for life, lol.

Our plan was to head over to EE but we could see from the distance that there was a railroad car stuck on the lift hill.

Instead we wondered over to meet Winnie the Pooh and his friends.

Commander had checked the park schedule and the plan was to see the 2:30 Nemo: The Musical Show. However, while walking by the theatre area we overhead a CM saying that the afternoon shows were cancelled. We immediately hopped in line for the 11:30 show. It would have been a big bummer to have missed this show. The Nemo show is fantastic. It takes place in a big (and I mean big) indoor theatre. It is a live musical show with the characters being large puppets. Don’t miss this show and tell the seagulls bye-bye for us.

It was getting to be lunch time so we made our way to Tusker House. This is a very good place to eat. There is a whole wall of rotisserie chickens being roasted over open flames. They look great and taste great. You get half a chicken plus green beans and mashed potatoes. It is a good deal. It would be even better if they offered some African sauces to go with the chicken. We sat outside on the patio and relaxed while having a nice lunch.

After lunch we saw the Festival of the Lion King while we allowed our stomachs to settle before taking on Expedition Everest. FOTLK is a great show and the performers are wonderful. While waiting for the show, Private DS when over to an ice cream stand to get a Mickey bar and the Dream Patrol was there!! What did he win????? A free Mickey bar and a certificate.

Then it was time to head over to EE. The crowds all along the walkways to EE were just amazing. It was packed shoulder to shoulder. The FP entry was clogged with people who either did not have FP or had FP for later in the day. A CM came out and told the crowd that if they did not have valid FP to please leave the area. Commander waived his FP and we were allowed inside.

EE is everything that people have raved about. The theme is carried through the whole ride. You feel that you are in Tibet and looking up at the great mountain. Getting on this ride was a special thrill. Space Mountain or RNR are great rides but because you have ridden them before you know what to expect. Being the first time on EE my heart was racing in anticipation. It is a fantastic ride!

After this we slowly made our way out of the park doing some shopping along the way and headed back to Base Camp.

This was our last night in WDW and we had ADR for Narcoossee’s at 7pm. Commander spent the rest of the afternoon having a cold one on the room’s balcony looking out over 7 Seas Lagoon and the Magic Kingdom.

We have dined at Narcoossee’s previously during other trips dating back to 1986. We really like this place. We had great service and the seafood was very good. Private DD especially enjoyed her bucket of mussels. As we finished dinner, Wishes was starting and we watched it from the dock outside of the restaurant. After Wishes the Electric Water Parade came by and we watched this too. It was a neat treat.

Commander mentioned that there was a 10pm SpectroMagic show and despite seeing it several times already during the week, we got off the monorail at the MK and headed in. This is why we choose to stay at the CR because it is just so easy to get to and from the Magic Kingdom. The crowds for the 10pm show were nominal and we had no problem walking about half way Main Street to find a great spot to watch the show. After the show we did some shopping on Main Street and headed back to the CR.

This was our last night in WDW and as we left the gates we all felt a little down.

***end daily briefing********

 

[Cruz Family]

Trek, that running picture was freakin hilarious!!!
Your report was just great and it was a pleasure to read. It really amazes me how much reading about someone elses trip helps me relive my own. I would love to follow your lead and stay a CR next year, especially with that view! I just won't tell DH how much it will cost.
Thanks so much for sharing, and adding a little Disney magic to my days.
-Melissa

 

[thptrek]

Melissa, CR magic Kingdom view can be expensive but I thought it was worth it. I hate it when you pay money and don't get what you paid for but this was not the case. GO FOR IT!!! Money is earned to be spent.

 

[Cruz Family]

Melissa, CR magic Kingdom view can be expensive but I thought it was worth it. I hate it when you pay money and don't get what you paid for but this was not the case. GO FOR IT!!! Money is earned to be spent.

Now I have to convince the hubby!!

 

[thptrek]

You are part of the Extreme Commandos, don't ask him, just give him his orders!!!

 

[lamagique]

Great report. I love riding rides for the first time... there's nothing like the first time. EE is a great ride, glad you liked it!

 

[tksbaskets]

Love the report! My family loved EE as well. Thanks for sharing,
TK

 

[thptrek]

I should have the last day and personal log posted later today if all goes well.