I Kicked it I Played it and now..Wheeling & Dealing at the WL final 9/9 p87/88

[dawnbu40]

25 minutes until showtime?! the compulsive planner in me,who would have been freaking out, really hopes you made it!

 

[MEK]

What a cliffhanger! I would have been a nervous wreck about being late! Sure hope you made it on time!!

Another set of gorgeous pictures, MEK! Sorry you didn't spend more time in Epcot but there is always next time!

I stayed pretty calm until it was 10 minute to showtime and we were just passing CBR and Pop!

 

[KatMark]

These cliffhangers are killing me. Love the photos of the monorail (and I never knew there were trees near the Epcot parking lot either. ).

 

[MEK]

Sorry you got left so far back at Epcot, but your pictures are sooo worth it! Love them!

Wow, I would have been totally losing my mind at being so late for Cirque! Can't wait to hear if you made it in time...

I loved taking those pictures of the monorail. I don't know if they are quite as nice as what I wanted, but I did have fun despite the blazing sun!

Yeah - I was starting to get a little freaky when I really thought we weren't going to make it!

 

[MEK]

What a cliffhanger!!!! You can't leave us hanging like that LOL!!!! I need to know did you make it on time!!!!!!

So there are other people who get lost in the parking lots besides me YESSSS.... I have so been waiting for this day!! You can join my club now MEK!! WOOT...I'll make us t-shirts LOL

Once again some amazing pictures!! So breathtaking!!!

You know I have to throw at least one cliffhanger in to any TR. What's a TR without a bit of nervous excitement?

Oh, yes, Jen - my cohorts certainly did get lost in that parking lot. It was not a pretty sight!!!!

Glad you like the pics.

I don't like cliffhangers!!!

come to think of it, neither do I?

I've been lurking reading and enjoying your trip report; I love your pics of the monorail - its one of the things that are so "Disney"; I also have to give you a big pat on the back for being so generous with respect to your trip - I would have been very tempted too to turn around and run (or at least walk quickly) back into Epcot - its one of my favorite places!

GoofyWife! Thanks for coming out of lurkdom to join in. I am so glad you like the monorail pics. I think the monorail is soooooo cool. I didn't quite get the shot I wanted, but it was good practice.

Yeah - I really missed Epcot this trip, but I plan to make up for it in September! AK and Epcot are my favorite parks right now! My favs change from time to time. I am fickle!

I'm sorry you didn't get much time at Epcot!!! I hate that feeling!

It wasn't a good feeling. But I think I've come to terms with it!

I'm glad you were able to get you RX filled at Walmart! I can totally see what your saying about walking through WL With Walmart bags in hand taking away from the magic! LOL!!!

So not cool to be walking around with Walmart bags in Disney! (Although they did make good trash bags!)

Yippeee for a nap but OMG you really were cutting it close getting to Cirque!

I hope you made it!

You will find out soon!

Eeeeek! I'm nervous for you! Did you make it????

What a cliffhanger!! We have to know if/when/how you got there!

I just found this trip report and it is my absolute fav! We have so much in common (alth my camara is not as nice) including some issues with a 17 year old son. and a few doses of Flagell! I work in a hospital too and became very ill with cdiff ( in ICU for several days and I do remember the Flagell!) Did you know it should all be covered by worker's comp? I didn't until a friend of a friend who's an ER doc told my husband. I am fine and healthy now and also enjoyed a disney trip after my illness. Anyway, loving your report and the gorgeous pictures.!

Carejo! We DO have a lot in common. 17???? Isn't it a great age? We take it one day at a time in my house and so far this summer hasn't been horrible!

I knew about the Workmen's comp and I do have a case number. I would really like to know how many healthcare workers are developing this? I am a fanatic hand washer at work, but I must have picked up a spore or two somewhere along the way. I am so glad you are doing well. I plan to take probiotics for the rest of my life (or at least the rest of the year)!

So glad to have join in on my TR!

Ugh! No wonder you all fell asleep after all that walking in all that heat!

Got my fingers crossed that you made it to the show!


Kathy

Nothing like a Disney nap to put you back on your feet!

And that show - well let's just say I have no pictures!

 

[KatMark]

At your suggestion, I went over to nilla's trip report -- what great writing he does and love his family. Thanks for sending us that way.

 

[MEK]

Thanks!!! As result of you shilling for my TR, I am now approaching 5000 views! And only 4500 of those are by me!

Your TR is really good. TR's are funny...once people start to know you then they will keep reading and your TR needs to be read!!!!

What little I've read of your TR I've loved. The pictures are phenomenal. I PROMISE I will read the whole thing, once I finish mine!

Thanks! It's hard coming in in the middle of a TR. I'm glad you like the pictures!

Love all the Photopass pictures with the four of you and then, you and Cathy!

Thanks. Those pictures were fun!

Oh my goodness about wandering too far to the car! What does Denny do when you aren't with him???

I think Denny actually does BETTER when I am not with him. Then he has to FOCUS! At Disney I am like his seeing eye dog!

I laughed out loud about carrying a Walmart bag through the Wilderness Lodge lobby!!!

)

Yeah - I bet you wish I had a picture of THAT!

Um, I will echo what others have said, "A cliffhanger??? Not fair!"

lalalalalalalala.....not listening!

25 minutes until showtime?! the compulsive planner in me,who would have been freaking out, really hopes you made it!

Oh believe me....I thought about all my Dis friends who would also have been freaking out - and that made me FREAK OUT EVEN MORE!

These cliffhangers are killing me. Love the photos of the monorail (and I never knew there were trees near the Epcot parking lot either. ).

You probably never knew there were trees in the Epcot parking lot because you probably NEVER WALKED TO THE BACK OF IT TO FIND YOUR CAR!!!!!

 

[MEK]

At your suggestion, I went over to nilla's trip report -- what great writing he does and love his family. Thanks for sending us that way.

Your welcome! His kids are adorable and he's a great writer. Perfect TR combination if you ask me!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

At your suggestion, I went over to nilla's trip report -- what great writing he does and love his family. Thanks for sending us that way.

Ditto.

 

[GoofyWife]

I love a good trip report - but I didn't see a link to nilla's ....

 

[Wicket's Mom]

My DH would do just like Denny. He can't find his way anywhere. When we get in the car he looks at me & asks which way!

My favorites change also, this last it was AK instead of HD, but Epcot also is my soft spot. We usually eat there most of the time.

I went to the TR that you recommended. Saved it, but have not started to read it yet. I know that I will like it just by his avatar, Bucky is one of my favorite characters.

 

[Nermel9]

Love the monorail pictures! I still don't know how I feel about the "Tron-orail"...DH liked it, he was upset we didn't get to go on it while we were there, but it kind of bothers me. I mean, it looks cool, but something about it annoys me at the same time!

Lol, I would never be able to live in Orlando with all the cheap Disney stuff around, I would need an entire room for just random Disney stuff I'd buy all the time!

Hope you made it to Cirque on time...and that the Evil D stays away!

 

[MEK]

Ditto.

I love a good trip report - but I didn't see a link to nilla's ....

Here it is:


http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2460343

My DH would do just like Denny. He can't find his way anywhere. When we get in the car he looks at me & asks which way!

Oh yeah...he IS just like Denny!

My favorites change also, this last it was AK instead of HD, but Epcot also is my soft spot. We usually eat there most of the time.

I went to the TR that you recommended. Saved it, but have not started to read it yet. I know that I will like it just by his avatar, Bucky is one of my favorite characters.

AK and Epcot - best scenery and best food!

It's a great TR. Definitely read it!

Love the monorail pictures! I still don't know how I feel about the "Tron-orail"...DH liked it, he was upset we didn't get to go on it while we were there, but it kind of bothers me. I mean, it looks cool, but something about it annoys me at the same time!

I don't get the whole Tron thing - does it mean something? I guess I could google it.

Lol, I would never be able to live in Orlando with all the cheap Disney stuff around, I would need an entire room for just random Disney stuff I'd buy all the time! That might get old after a while. LOL!

Walmart runs would be a real challenge! I would end up with one bag just full of Disney stuff!

Hope you made it to Cirque on time...and that the Evil D stays away!

I hope so considering what we paid for for the tickets!

 

[MEK]

I have been to Disney over 10 times. In 2009 I finally decided to stop counting how many times I've gone to Disney. It may be 11...it may be 12....it may be 13. I'm really not sure anymore. I guess I could go to my siggie and count up my trips, but what fun would that be and does it REALLY matter. NOT!

My point being that for half of those trips I have wanted to see Cirque. Anyone and everyone who has ever seen Cirque LOVES it. In fact, I have NEVER heard a bad review about Cirque. "Must See" "Totally Worth Every Penny" "Would See it Again in Heart Beat". "You will love it". Those comments come to mind when I think about Cirque. I have considered buying tickets on previous trips, but as we all know those tickets are not cheap. Everytime I would start to multiply $80 X 4 or X 6, I would think.... I would talk myself out of buying the tickets by saying, "It can't be that great. The kids won't want to see it. There are so many other things to do with that money".

So on this I felt very fortunate to get tickets for $58.00. For me, this was a steal. So now I had these wonderful tickets sitting waiting at will call for my arrival and I was stuck in a car. If you have ever stayed at the WL you probably know that you have to travel past the Poly and the GF to start heading towards any of the parks except the MK. As we were traveling past the Poly I remember thinking, "Why the heck didn't I make everyone leave 15 mins earlier. What the heck was I thinking. This isn't Pop, CBR, POR, or SSR. It's the WL, which is a MK resort. It's TWICE as far". So much for good planning.

I tried to relax. I really did. In fact, I almost did, but then Chuck failed to follow the GPS directions correctly and exited before he was instructed to do so. I suddenly found us heading in the direction opposite DTD. This is when I started to get antsy. Really antsy! Although his mistake was quickly rectified, we continued to lose time as we hit TONS of traffic. I looked at the clock....5:50pm and we were just approaching CBR.

This is when I "almost" lost it. I exclaimed, " We ARE going to miss this show". Chuck responded to my angst by weaving in and out of traffic, hoping to help us gain 30 seconds or so. He went right to try to pass a Disney bus. Bad idea Chuck....now we are in an exit lane. "Quick Chuck....go back....DTD is straight ahead".

Chuck said, "I will drop you guys off and go park the car. At least you will all get in". Poor Chuck. Now I was making him anxious. He pulled up to the curb beside the Cirque building and I made a mad dash to the ticket window. "ARE.....WE....TOO LATE....FOR THE 6pm SHOW?" I asked as I tried to catch my breath. The lady at the ticket window barely looked up. "You are fine", she replied or mumbled.

With tickets in hand, Chuck finally appeared and we all entered the theatre. There was no time for popcorn or a quick drink. We found our seats just as the pre-show performers were exiting the stage. And I am proud to say that two more people actually entered the theatre after us. So we weren't the last arrivals after all.

Phew......I took a deep cleansing breath just as all of the performers came out to walk around the outside of the stage. They came prancing out in time to the music. Quite a cast of characters. I am not sure why they all came out in the beginning....may be to build the anticipation. Not sure.

So you probably know that you can't take pics in the Cirque theatre. I had heard there was a Cirque camera nazi. I heard she could sense or smell a camera from 50 ft away and that would pounce on you and your unsuspecting camera before you could even think "cheese". Needless to say, I have no pictures of Cirque. I wasn't about to take the chance of having my camera confiscated.

How can I possible describe Cirque du Soliel La Nouba without pictures? All I can say is that its a feast for the senses. Its the fastest 90 minutes of your life. When you are in the theatre, caught up in the spell of the sight and sounds, you lose all track of time. It begins was a lowly, dumpy looking maid appearing on stage as if she is cleaning up after the night's last act. Then the mayhem begins. Two performers come out spinning inside two distinct circles. They command their wire circles - spinning them this way and that...they disappear and reappear in time with the music. Several other performers appear at the same time. It is almost impossible to keep track of everything that is happening on the stage.

I can't remember everything that happens during the show. I wish I could remember the exact sequence because I didn't take notes. I will do my best. I think the next act was the tight rope walk walkers. Amazing. If my memory serves me correctly, there were two trick bicycle riders - one on a mountain biker and one a tiny BMX bike. These guys were really good. They could hop up and down stairs and spin their front and back tires out into the audience at will. I thought they were pretty impressive.

The favorite act of the audience actually started within the first 45 minutes of the show. I don't even want to describe this act. I would rather show you this youtube video so you can judge for yourself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h22o6cDMH3g

The audience went crazy when these girls came out. I think there were only three girls in our show. They were amazing. And they knew it. They were feeding right off the energy in the crowd. Our theatre was only about 2/3rds full, but the applause was infectious.

It was shortly after this act that I noticed that a lot of the music used in the show was live. Sure, there was a backing track, but many of the solo instruments were live - guitars, drums, trumpet, violin. There were two big columns to the side of the stage and the various musicians were housed in there.

If you can watch about 2 minutes from the start of this next video you will see the silk ballet performance. I found this really fascinating. I couldn't believe how the performers could wrap themselves in these scarfs and not fall down. Really amazing......


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqF0tPFoYu8

It took me awhile to realize that the singing in this act was all done live.

Other acts included an incredible juggler and the various trapeze artists. I was seated to the left of the stage in the second row so we had to look straight up to see the trapeze artists. It wasn't the best spot viewing and it was a little unnerving to know they were 25 ft directly above your head.

There was another sequence with acrobats and tumblers who jumped in and out of a building using trampolines for momentum. This was pretty cool and very different. See this video....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXtuWu2pcbQ

When the show finally ended I looked at the time to see its length was 90mins. Like I said - I totally lost track of time.

All of the performers came out at the end of the show and received their just applause and standing ovation. The athleticism that was displayed during this show was unbelievable. I have never seen so many fit people in one place before. Kudos to all the performers in this amazing show.

I forgot to mention that the stage was pretty amazing too. There were at least 3 or 4 tiers that rose above us. The origin to all the various suspension props used during the show were well hidden. I can't imagine how much backstage help is required for this show, but never once were the transitions noticeable. It was so well choreographed. It never missed a beat!

So my recommendation......

If you have time to see it and work it into the trip budget - DO IT! It was worth every penny and it is a one of a kind experience.

Up next.....DTD as the sun sets!

 

[GoofyWife]

Tron was a sci fi movie from the 80s by Disney, I don't think I've ever watched the whole thing, but I know I've seen bits of it - someone else probably knows the whole plot, but it had something to do with a computer game? And I thought I heard they were doing a remake?

 

[Charleston Princess]

Whew! You made it! Thank goodness! And wow! Cirque sounds absolutely incredible!

 

[SoonerGirl]

Totally agree about Cirque! We loved it and I'm so glad we decided to spend the money and go. Too bad you missed the pre-show, it was pretty funny, but at least you made it in time for the real show!

 

[MiNniEDrEameR]

I agree 100% about Cirque, totally worth the money!!!! Dh and I loved it so much we decided we want to see other Cirque shows so we are going to see ... OvO the new traveling Cirque show in Nov in Atlanta!!! I think it is going to be similar to a Bugs life because it is all bugs and how they live. I saw the performers on Regis and Kelly and I was hooked.. I am so excited!!!!! cant wait for the next update!!

Kimi

 

[dawnbu40]

Glad you made it there and thoroughly enjoyed the show!

 

[mickeysmyboy]

I'm so glad you made it! I figured you did because I remember a lot of late entries when DH and I went!

I'm so glad you like it! You know I loved it and DH, well, not so much!

Looking forward to more!