Once inside the park, I was feeling better as long as I stayed focused on the stuff around me
except for the thousands of children around the place.
Me and Mickey (along with some strangers), ready to hit our favorite park. Oh, and some international grub.
We were very anxious to try the new attraction Soarin. But its a little after 10am by now and the standby line was like 50 minutes already. So we grab some Fastpasses and head over to the other side of the park.
Test Track is whirring away overhead. Dan makes it very clear that he wants to go on that next. By clear I mean hes jumping up and down, pointing at TT, and saying, Can we go on that next? Can we? Huh? Huh? But holy crap, the standby line is over 30 minutes! The single line says 10 minutes, so there really isnt a question about which line well choose.
Dont you feel like a first-class passenger when you hit the singles line? You literally walk past a hundred folks in standby who watch you walk right onto the ride. (I guess they dont call it standby for nothing right, Mickey? Heh heh.) Ever notice how those standby folks look as you run past them? Some look jealous, some angry, and some look puzzled. The puzzled look always amuses me its like they didnt understand how your line is moving so quickly.
Ten minutes my butt! We go straight from outdoors right into the video room. A few minutes later, were waiting for our next car. Sure Dan and I are taking separate cars. But it is sooooo worth it.
Seven minutes later, Im scrambling out of my car to check out my photo. Everyone is gathered around the screens as usual, but many of them were pointing and laughing at one photo in particular. I moved forward to see what the commotion was about.
You guessed it. They were laughing at my husband.
Hes got an index finger up his nose and one very surprised expression on his face. Like he just got caught picking his nose. My god it was hysterical. Nice way to make up for the lame Dinosaur snapshot. Had I read about LaLas neat little trick about taking a picture of a picture before this trip, I would have done that. Unfortunately, that never crossed my mind and the image is gone forever. Curses!
Thats my husband! I shout, trying to cash in on Dans minor celebrity status. A few men laughed, a few women gave me sympathy looks. Dan comes walking up just in time to hear my announcement. When he sees the photo he gives me his Im so proud of myself look, giggles, and walks away.
And yes, all that positive attention would create a nose-picking monster.
Since being single worked so well the first time, Dan and I try our luck being single on Mission Space. Apparently, this is the alternate universe from Test Track, where singles are sparingly picked off as the standby crowd zooms by. We watched the end of the standby line go into the preparation room while we stood in line and waited to be called in. Crap! I guess its like switching lanes in traffic once you are finally able to squeeze into the moving lane, the one you left suddenly moves forward.
So we ride Mission Space like a couple of pros (I dig this ride!) and walk toward the exit with shaky knees. The doors open and we step back outside. What the ? Holy crap, this park is getting packed. I would blame it on the Food and Wine Festival, but I came last October and it wasnt anything like this. We can hardly walk without an excuse me, sorry, or a why dont you people go home like you were last year?
We eventually meander to Spaceship Earth for one last attraction before lunch. Yep kiddies, there is a line for this bad boy too. Now, as much as I admire the nostalgic timelessness about this attraction, I am not feeling the love for the outdated technology of the rides mechanics. In 1982 Im sure this was a technological wonder. By todays standards well, Im sure theyve done market surveys on those hard blue plastic seats and probably know that the average WDW visitor isnt comfortable in them, especially for 20 minutes at a time. Also, I cannot rest my head against the headrest because the sound system has degraded and, as an effort to make up for it, theyve turned the volume up very loud and this level hurts my ears. So I lean my head forward a bit from the headrest, but the track has degraded too, and the chains which pull the vehicle forward tend to slip, which jerks the car back and forward, thus repeatedly slamming my head against the blue plastic headrest. All while this is happening, you hear a loud clunk from under your feet. This becomes very distracting. And painful. And do I need to mention the smell? Okay, Rome burning smells awesome. But I mean the old, musty smell that is a gentle reminder for the olfactories that this thing needs a few updates. I know I cant be the only one to smell it. So for as much as I still love this silly little attraction, Im just not enamored with the jerking, slamming, clunking, and smelling innards. Call me crazy.
Its 11:50 and weve got a noon ADR at Biergarten. Just as we approach the restaurant, the rain hits. Dan is so excited (not because of the rain) because hes been anxious to try Biergarten. We wait for the restaurant to open and watch as people dart for shelter from the rain. When the restaurant does open, we are among the first to be seated, so the place is empty and we can really check out the architecture inside. What a beautiful building! It looks like a little German town in here.
Check out that ghosty image in the lower left corner. Probably the spirit of some old German waitress. Spoooooookyyyyyyyyy.
And the food smells so good were told we can get our food but first I tell Dan that he cannot eat until hes washed his fingers (all that nose picking, you know).
The food doesnt disappoint Dan, but the vegetarian pickings are slim for me. However, what I can eat tastes pretty darn good and look ma, no aftertaste! Dan, of course, loves the food so much that he goes up for seconds and thirds. And dessert. Dude, slow down. We have to eat again tonight.
Dan, trying to put those 85 pounds back on and doing one heck of a job.
Dan gives Biergarten a big thumbs up and announces that we have to eat there again. Not doing so would be all illegal and stuff. Never mind that I dont get the smorgasbord of choices that you get, dear. We step outside ick, the rain is still going. So we pull out the rain gear, I tuck my Pal inside to keep him dry, and we meander our way through the sea of Mickey ponchos.
The rain isnt keeping the guests away. We eventually get back to the Land pavilion so that we can use our Fastpasses. The Soarin standby line is up to 80 minutes. Good thing we came during the value season, honey! You know, to beat the crowds and all. Now lets see what this new attraction is all about.
Pal Mickey, say something like, Oh boy! This ride sure is swell! Just make sure you have your pilots license ready. Ha ha! No? Well, obviously age is catching up with you because you cant seem to hear any of the twenty million Soarin radio frequencies that are being thrown at you.
We stand in our lines and the monitor overhead comes on. Puddy from Seinfeld gives us our flight instructions, and Dans squealing for joy (Look! Its Puddy!). The doors open and we walk to our glider. I safely stow my silent Pal into the bin and we sit into our gliders. I have to say, this is a wonderful attraction. The wind, the scents, the sensation of flying (no head slamming, musty smells, or chain slipping!) it was a fantastic experience. Dan and I were very impressed. But you can forget getting back on this thing. The standby line creeped up to 90 minutes and Fastpasses wont be ready to use until dinner time. Curses!
Next installment: Part 3. The Prison of Tomorrow
Me and Mickey (along with some strangers), ready to hit our favorite park. Oh, and some international grub.
We were very anxious to try the new attraction Soarin. But its a little after 10am by now and the standby line was like 50 minutes already. So we grab some Fastpasses and head over to the other side of the park.
Test Track is whirring away overhead. Dan makes it very clear that he wants to go on that next. By clear I mean hes jumping up and down, pointing at TT, and saying, Can we go on that next? Can we? Huh? Huh? But holy crap, the standby line is over 30 minutes! The single line says 10 minutes, so there really isnt a question about which line well choose.
Dont you feel like a first-class passenger when you hit the singles line? You literally walk past a hundred folks in standby who watch you walk right onto the ride. (I guess they dont call it standby for nothing right, Mickey? Heh heh.) Ever notice how those standby folks look as you run past them? Some look jealous, some angry, and some look puzzled. The puzzled look always amuses me its like they didnt understand how your line is moving so quickly.
Ten minutes my butt! We go straight from outdoors right into the video room. A few minutes later, were waiting for our next car. Sure Dan and I are taking separate cars. But it is sooooo worth it.
Seven minutes later, Im scrambling out of my car to check out my photo. Everyone is gathered around the screens as usual, but many of them were pointing and laughing at one photo in particular. I moved forward to see what the commotion was about.
You guessed it. They were laughing at my husband.
Hes got an index finger up his nose and one very surprised expression on his face. Like he just got caught picking his nose. My god it was hysterical. Nice way to make up for the lame Dinosaur snapshot. Had I read about LaLas neat little trick about taking a picture of a picture before this trip, I would have done that. Unfortunately, that never crossed my mind and the image is gone forever. Curses!
Thats my husband! I shout, trying to cash in on Dans minor celebrity status. A few men laughed, a few women gave me sympathy looks. Dan comes walking up just in time to hear my announcement. When he sees the photo he gives me his Im so proud of myself look, giggles, and walks away.
And yes, all that positive attention would create a nose-picking monster.
Since being single worked so well the first time, Dan and I try our luck being single on Mission Space. Apparently, this is the alternate universe from Test Track, where singles are sparingly picked off as the standby crowd zooms by. We watched the end of the standby line go into the preparation room while we stood in line and waited to be called in. Crap! I guess its like switching lanes in traffic once you are finally able to squeeze into the moving lane, the one you left suddenly moves forward.
So we ride Mission Space like a couple of pros (I dig this ride!) and walk toward the exit with shaky knees. The doors open and we step back outside. What the ? Holy crap, this park is getting packed. I would blame it on the Food and Wine Festival, but I came last October and it wasnt anything like this. We can hardly walk without an excuse me, sorry, or a why dont you people go home like you were last year?
We eventually meander to Spaceship Earth for one last attraction before lunch. Yep kiddies, there is a line for this bad boy too. Now, as much as I admire the nostalgic timelessness about this attraction, I am not feeling the love for the outdated technology of the rides mechanics. In 1982 Im sure this was a technological wonder. By todays standards well, Im sure theyve done market surveys on those hard blue plastic seats and probably know that the average WDW visitor isnt comfortable in them, especially for 20 minutes at a time. Also, I cannot rest my head against the headrest because the sound system has degraded and, as an effort to make up for it, theyve turned the volume up very loud and this level hurts my ears. So I lean my head forward a bit from the headrest, but the track has degraded too, and the chains which pull the vehicle forward tend to slip, which jerks the car back and forward, thus repeatedly slamming my head against the blue plastic headrest. All while this is happening, you hear a loud clunk from under your feet. This becomes very distracting. And painful. And do I need to mention the smell? Okay, Rome burning smells awesome. But I mean the old, musty smell that is a gentle reminder for the olfactories that this thing needs a few updates. I know I cant be the only one to smell it. So for as much as I still love this silly little attraction, Im just not enamored with the jerking, slamming, clunking, and smelling innards. Call me crazy.
Its 11:50 and weve got a noon ADR at Biergarten. Just as we approach the restaurant, the rain hits. Dan is so excited (not because of the rain) because hes been anxious to try Biergarten. We wait for the restaurant to open and watch as people dart for shelter from the rain. When the restaurant does open, we are among the first to be seated, so the place is empty and we can really check out the architecture inside. What a beautiful building! It looks like a little German town in here.
Check out that ghosty image in the lower left corner. Probably the spirit of some old German waitress. Spoooooookyyyyyyyyy.
And the food smells so good were told we can get our food but first I tell Dan that he cannot eat until hes washed his fingers (all that nose picking, you know).
The food doesnt disappoint Dan, but the vegetarian pickings are slim for me. However, what I can eat tastes pretty darn good and look ma, no aftertaste! Dan, of course, loves the food so much that he goes up for seconds and thirds. And dessert. Dude, slow down. We have to eat again tonight.
Dan, trying to put those 85 pounds back on and doing one heck of a job.
Dan gives Biergarten a big thumbs up and announces that we have to eat there again. Not doing so would be all illegal and stuff. Never mind that I dont get the smorgasbord of choices that you get, dear. We step outside ick, the rain is still going. So we pull out the rain gear, I tuck my Pal inside to keep him dry, and we meander our way through the sea of Mickey ponchos.
The rain isnt keeping the guests away. We eventually get back to the Land pavilion so that we can use our Fastpasses. The Soarin standby line is up to 80 minutes. Good thing we came during the value season, honey! You know, to beat the crowds and all. Now lets see what this new attraction is all about.
Pal Mickey, say something like, Oh boy! This ride sure is swell! Just make sure you have your pilots license ready. Ha ha! No? Well, obviously age is catching up with you because you cant seem to hear any of the twenty million Soarin radio frequencies that are being thrown at you.
We stand in our lines and the monitor overhead comes on. Puddy from Seinfeld gives us our flight instructions, and Dans squealing for joy (Look! Its Puddy!). The doors open and we walk to our glider. I safely stow my silent Pal into the bin and we sit into our gliders. I have to say, this is a wonderful attraction. The wind, the scents, the sensation of flying (no head slamming, musty smells, or chain slipping!) it was a fantastic experience. Dan and I were very impressed. But you can forget getting back on this thing. The standby line creeped up to 90 minutes and Fastpasses wont be ready to use until dinner time. Curses!
Next installment: Part 3. The Prison of Tomorrow
???? Even though you were no longer being Harry Potter, mystical things still happen.
Then my 11 yr old nephew said..."You mean Puddy for Seinfield"..."Yeah! that too kid!" 
Man, funny stuff never happens like that with my family. I'm going to start traveling with you guys now!....Just kidding. No really, I was kidding. You can stop crying now!
or 2 or 3 after that mindgrating feetnumbing experience!
