He Was Bitten, Bitten By The Bug! A Nov-Dec '12 TR **WRAP UP 7/26**

[mickeystoontown]

Fun update! I'm always amazed at how much you get done in so little time. Guess that's one of the perks of traveling solo. Wow! I love the pics that you got inside the Haunted Mansion. They are all so good.

 

[PhoenixStrength]

Fun update! I'm always amazed at how much you get done in so little time. Guess that's one of the perks of traveling solo. Wow! I love the pics that you got inside the Haunted Mansion. They are all so good.

Solo trips definitely make it easier to get a lot done!

Thanks! I usually don't get such good HM pictures since the lighting is so low in there, but it worked out this time!

 

[afwdwfan]

Nice ride pictures! You were able to get quite a bit in.

I'm glad that you got a good skipper for the JC. That really makes a huge difference on that ride. Especially when you sit there waiting for a little bit.

 

[PhoenixStrength]

Nice ride pictures! You were able to get quite a bit in.

I'm glad that you got a good skipper for the JC. That really makes a huge difference on that ride. Especially when you sit there waiting for a little bit.

Thanks! The biggest benefit of traveling solo is being able to get a lot done.

I was very happy to get Maya since she was hilarious, even with the lines I've heard many times as her delivery was great. The skipper definitely is what makes the ride good or bad. I've been lucky that in the dozen or so times I done JC I've only had 1 bad skipper that I can recall. And he wasn't horrible, just not as into the character.

 

[ronnmel]

The picture of you "cuddling" your backpack on Splash Mountain is funny.

I've never even set foot in the restaurant next to IASW. The window really is pretty.

 

[PhoenixStrength]

The picture of you "cuddling" your backpack on Splash Mountain is funny.

I've never even set foot in the restaurant next to IASW. The window really is pretty.

It actually wasn't even supposed to be me cuddling it when I did that, I just had it on my lap to keep it dry. But I realized it looked like I was cuddling it while sleeping in the picture!

You need to at least walk around Pinocchio Village Haus, as it has gorgeous paintings of Pinocchio scenes up the walls and lots of cute touchs. And sitting by the window is fun since lots of people from IASW wave to you. I had a bunch of kids smiling and waving to me last trip.

 

[PhoenixStrength]

DAY FIVE, MONDAY DECEMBER 3RD, PART THREE



Once I finished my meal at Pinocchio Village Haus I was feeling a little off so I wanted to do an attraction while sitting to keep my stomach okay and start feeling better. Why not head across the walkway and enjoy this gem?









The wait time was only 5 minutes so I got in line and walked all the way in, taking a couple of pictures.









More people started coming in behind me before a CM came running up and told us that it was temporarily closed and we had to get out of line. They said it would be open again in 20 minutes, but I didn't make it back over then.

I decided to head back over to Tomorrowland to do the attractions I had missed already. Of course I took pictures on the way over. First up, the back of Cindy's Castle and a shot of the sign for the Princess Greeting area.









The outside wall of the Mine Train area...





And Alice by the Tea Cups






The first attraction I came to in Tomorrowland was one I had skipped every MK day so far. Which one? This one of course!






The wait time said 20 minutes, so I got in line. Thankfully it was another shorter-than-stated line, as I was in a car within 10 minutes. I did have some time to take pictures still while waiting.












Then I was in my car...






...and hitting the road. At least this road has a track so I can safely take pictures of my surroundings.
























I had never noticed this in the car any other times I rode in the cars.






The reason I usually skip the Tomorrowland Speedway is the smell. I usually have a headache at the end of it but this time I didn't, which was great!!

Next up on the rides I hadn't done so far this trip was Astro Orbiter.










I cannot remember how long the posted wait was, but I wound up waiting 25 minutes. There was a group of teenagers from a sporting group with POP Warner behind me that kept getting in and out of line as some of them would go to the bathroom and come back, then others would go get food and come back. They are lucky there were behind me, because if they were in front of me I would have laid them out for that. Their chaperone did eventually appear and made them all stay in line, or stay out if they left it. But that was after 20 minutes.

Besides the annoying teenagers I also could see the stage and dance party going on from some spots in the line.









CONTINUED IN THE NEXT POST




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[PhoenixStrength]

After the 25 minute wait I was in my rocket, ready to fly over MK. I took a bunch of pictures while I was up there, so here they are for you to enjoy!



























As you can see the sun was starting to set, though there was still a good amount of light left.

The only ride in Tomorrowland I hadn't done yet was Stitch, and since I really hate that attraction I was fine with it staying that way. I headed "next door" and walked right on to Peoplemover.






And took more pictures of Magic Kingdom while relaxing on my tour.


















The Dance Party was still going on so I took another picture.






My next stop was a ride I had done many times this trip, but I love it so I was going to do it some more, Space Mountain.






The wait time was posted as 20 minutes, though I wound up waiting 30 minutes. At least they have the mini-games now, so the wait didn't seem bad for the beginning. It's just once you get past there that you get bored when you're alone.












It was fun, as always. I got one picture on my way out.






I took a ghetto photopass picture of my ride photo before remembering I had PP+ and didn't need to do that! But I can't seem to find the PP picture so I'll post it here and add the real one later!






NEXT TIME: MORE TOMORROWLAND FUN!




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[mickeystoontown]

It's been years since I've driven the speedway cars or been on the Astro Orbiter. I had completely forgotten all of the different sights that you could see while on the racetrack and up in the air. Cool!

 

[ronnmel]

Astro Orbiter is one of the only ride I remember going on when I was young. I'd love to go again, but the wait is usually too long for my taste. Not super long, but longer than I care to wait for such a ride. It was nice to see your pictures from it though!

 

[Pluto0809]

I couldn't tell you the last time I rode the Tomorrowland Speedway. I have the same problem with the smell so I tend to avoid it.

The Astro Orbiter is the one ride in all of Disney that terrifies me! I don't feel safe because you feel like you are going to fly out of the car. I alson haven't ridden them in years. But the pictures of the views are making me want to give it another try.

 

[wiigirl]

Great pics!

 

[PhoenixStrength]

It's been years since I've driven the speedway cars or been on the Astro Orbiter. I had completely forgotten all of the different sights that you could see while on the racetrack and up in the air. Cool!

The view is the main reason I ride each of them, especially Astro Orbiter.

Astro Orbiter is one of the only ride I remember going on when I was young. I'd love to go again, but the wait is usually too long for my taste. Not super long, but longer than I care to wait for such a ride. It was nice to see your pictures from it though!

Isn't it funny what you do and don't remember? Funny that that is the one ride you remember.

The long wait for such a short ride is the main reason why I usually skip Astro Orbiter. But since it was the 3rd time I was at MK that trip and had done everything else multiple times I was okay with waiting for it that time. I am happy I did, though it still isn't a must-do for me.

I couldn't tell you the last time I rode the Tomorrowland Speedway. I have the same problem with the smell so I tend to avoid it.

The Astro Orbiter is the one ride in all of Disney that terrifies me! I don't feel safe because you feel like you are going to fly out of the car. I alson haven't ridden them in years. But the pictures of the views are making me want to give it another try.

I think there was a light breeze that day, which probably helped with the smell not being so bad.

I can understand why the lack of seatbelt and tilting of the rocket could be scary. It doesn't really scare me, but I do make sure I brace myself with my feet before it starts for that reason. If you put your feet against the inside and push hard you don't move at all and it feels like you are braced tightly in it. The views are amazing, so you should try it again!

Great pics!

Thank you very much!!

 

[afwdwfan]

That's a shame that Philharmagic had to close while you were waiting. That is always one of my favorites.

Great pictures from the speedway. I have to give you some credit there, even though you have that rail to keep you from driving off the road, it still takes some skill to get good pictures and hang onto the camera when it jerks you back across the track.

 

[PhoenixStrength]

That's a shame that Philharmagic had to close while you were waiting. That is always one of my favorites.

Great pictures from the speedway. I have to give you some credit there, even though you have that rail to keep you from driving off the road, it still takes some skill to get good pictures and hang onto the camera when it jerks you back across the track.

I love Philharmagic too, and was sad I had to skip it that day.

Oh, I have some blurry and less-than-lovely pictures too from bieng jerked around, I just didn't post those ones!

 

[PhoenixStrength]

Happy Independence Day to all my DIS friends!!

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[PhoenixStrength]

DAY FIVE, MONDAY DECEMBER 3RD, PART FOUR


After my ride thru the stars I headed over to Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin.

Before getting in line I grabbed a Fastpass. The posted line wait was 25 minutes, but the actual wait was only about 10 minutes. I took a few pictures in line, though not many since the line moved quickly.












Any my score this time?






Yup, I got myself one of these!






Oh, and I actually remembered where the picture was being taken so I didn't have my sniper face on!






I know I have tried to describe the "Z" I hit on Buzz to get such high scores, but this time I took a picture in that room to help illustrate it! When you come to this room, near the end of the ride:






Look on his ship that Zurg is sitting in. The "Z" at the bottom of it, that I circled in yellow, is the one that gives you 100,000 points per hit. Hope that helps! If you have any other questions let me know

When I got done I got right back in line, which now said 15 minutes for the wait but was only 8 minutes. A few more line pictures:















I didn't do as well this time, but it was still good.






I remembered the camera once again!






By that time it was time to head back to Fantasyland for my Peter Pan Fastpass. I took one pic of Beast's Castle on my way past...






And then made my way to PP. The standby wait was 40 minutes at that point, but my wait was only about 3 minutes thanks to the FP.






None of my pictures from the ride turned out well, so none in the ride this time!

I headed back over to Fantasyland to get one more ride in before the Castle show and Wishes. I used my FP for Buzz and was soon back on.












And I got the max score again.






We got stopped in the very last room after you get done shooting at Zurg for a few minutes, so I took some pictures in there.












I headed back toward the Hub next, to get a place for the shows. But first, a few castle shots and ones of me, first from my camera...









CONTINUED IN THE NEXT POST




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[PhoenixStrength]

And then one picture from my Photopass...






I headed for the Hub to find a good spot. As I approached the Hub I noticed that no one was in front of the Partners statue, so I took what may be my favorite picture of the whole trip






I LOVE that picture! After taking that I moved to the other side of the Hub and managed to get a fantastic spot. How great of a spot? Well, this was my view of the Castle, with no zoom.






Hmm...that was is a little blurry. Well, I took a few more while waiting for the castle show to start, so here are those too!












They turned the Christmas lights off just before the show started, and I got one shot of the castle in pink...






Before the new castle show started! I LOVE this new show and took a TON of pictures, so be prepared for a LOT of pictures from this show. And no words, just enjoy the photos!

























































CONTINUED IN THE NEXT POST



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[PhoenixStrength]

More show pictures, many, many more!




























































CONTINUED IN THE NEXT POST



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[PhoenixStrength]

And even more pictures from the castle show!






























And that was the end of it. I like MM&Y, but I like this castle show even more. It's so amazing to watch the castle tranform over and over into Disney scenes.

After the show ended I stuck around, since Wishes would be started soon.


NEXT TIME: WISHES, AND MORE!



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