I Paid Someone $5 for a Catchy Trip Report Title, and This is All I Got-Updated 12/29

[glennbo123]

Great pictures!

BLT is very tempting!....

Thank you! Yes, adding-on was in the back of our minds for a couple of days there. We had to resist the urge.

I see the Treehouse Villas in your sig....they should be fun!

 

[Tribilín]

I got the coffee problem covered

Ready for more of your TR!

 

[eandesmom]

Thank you! Yes, adding-on was in the back of our minds for a couple of days there. We had to resist the urge.

I see the Treehouse Villas in your sig....they should be fun!

Oh I sure hope so! It's not quite solid yet but getting more so daily

 

[jordanyosh]

Glad I'm not the only behind on his TR/PTR....

Take your time...remember it took me 15 months to finish mine.

 

[glennbo123]

Glad I'm not the only behind on his TR/PTR....

Take your time...remember it took me 15 months to finish mine.

I knew a post like this wasn't far off. I'm glad you're checking up on me Jordan!

Sorry guys....no I haven't fallen off the face of the earth. But now that school has started back up, the busy-ness meter is red-lining, with volunteering for kids' activities and band etc., etc. I was on a business trip last week and thought maybe I could get another installment out, but each night after having dinner with my co-workers by the time we got back to the hotel I just felt like unwinding and going to bed.

I am going to try to get another installment posted very soon! And I expect to finish before we switch to a new calendar!

 

[jordanyosh]

I knew a post like this wasn't far off. I'm glad you're checking up on me Jordan!

I am going to try to get another installment posted very soon! And I expect to finish before we switch to a new calendar!

I'm gonna hold you to that!

I think Winkers and I have had the longest TRs.......15 months for mine and I think her last one was about a year....

 

[glennbo123]

On Day 6 of our trip, Thursday July 2nd, I was still getting up pretty early, 6:30 am. I got ready for the day and took a picture of these babies -- the VIP Fastpasses we got at the DVC event the night before:

I took them with me that day, just in case, but planned to save them until Saturday, July 4th, since I figured that’d be a busy park day and they would come in very handy.

Today we’d be visiting the Animal Kingdom, the last park we had yet to visit on this trip. We had a date with Expedition Everest, which was not yet open when we last visited in 2005.

We made it to the bus stop at 8:20 and were at the park by 8:40. The kids and Judy stopped near the park entrance to look at some of the creatures the cast members have there, a tarantula I think, and I, the Fastpass Volunteer, continued forward to brave the rope-drop crowd. On my way, I passed a Photopass photographer, so thought I might as well get my picture taken.

Then I got to the back of the rope-drop crowd. The opening show was going on, but I couldn’t make out much of it. I remember them saying “Let the adventure begin!” though.

Then I fast-walked to EE and got fastpasses for 9:40 am. Soon the rest of my gang caught up with me. (These small fingers belong to Marlene, not me.)

For this first ride we got in the standby line. The theming for this ride is fantastic. I didn’t take a picture, but I loved the display of supplies that were destroyed by the yeti -- tents and boots with rips and bite marks. While in line Marlene and James started panicking about the ride. Marlene said she didn’t want to go, and that’s all James needed to hear, he wasn’t going either. Oh, we had worked up to this ride for several days! First Thunder Mountain, then Test Track, and then Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. Of course we reminded them how they loved those rides, and if they could do those, they could do this one. We made our way to the loading area and a cast member saw the trouble we were having and had us step to the side so she could talk to the kids. She was able to convince Marlene to go, but James still wasn’t up to it. His stomach was hurting from anxiety. It’s not worth that, so we decided that I’d go with Lauren and Marlene (I’d ride with Marlene), and Judy would wait with James. Then we'd do a "parent swap" when I got back.

So, here are some pictures from our first trip on Everest. A view of Asia during our ascent.

A fast but “gentle” section of the ride, before you get to the top.

The “oh no, the track’s destroyed” shot. I know you’ve seen it in a million trip reports, but you’re going to see it here too, and I’ve got more later!

Lauren, while we’re waiting to go backwards.

We’ve started to go backwards, here’s a shot of Marlene. She looks happy, but there’s still quite a bit of nervousness here.

We finish the ride and we each loved it, including Marlene. I realized that I didn’t see the yeti! I obviously saw the shadow-on-the-wall yeti, where you’re stopped in the cave, but I didn’t see the animatronic yeti that you see on the Travel Channel shows. Marlene said she didn’t see it either (but there’s a good chance her eyes weren’t open). Lauren said she saw it. Oh well, here’s our redneck picture. It’s pretty blurry, sorry.

We met up with Judy and James in the gift shop and Marlene tried to convince James that it was fun and he’d like it, but he just couldn’t bring himself to go. Judy had talked to the cast member about child swap and she could just go back through a special gate near the fastpass entrance. She took Lauren and Marlene with her, so they each got a second ride. While James and I waited in the gift shop I tried to convince him he could do it. A cast member walked by and started talking to us and I asked her about the ride and she said, “Oh, I only rode it once. It was too scary for me!” Thanks.

James took a liking to these plush, stuffed-animal yeti’s that they sell there and we were playing catch with one while we waited. I told him that if he rode Everest I’d buy him one. Yes, I was resorting to bribery! It’s terrible parenting, but I knew he would love it if he’d just go on. He asked if he could get one without riding and I said, “You wouldn’t want a souvenir from a ride that you never went on, would you?” Well, he’d think about it.

We went outside to watch the trains come down the mountain while we waited for the ladies. I took this picture of one train, it’s not Judy and the girls’, but I thought it was kind of funny. The people in the first row are hugging, and the people in the next several rows remind me of that scene from Airplane! -- “Assume crash positions!”

When the ladies came off the ride they said they were in the first car and it was a shame I wasn't there with my camera. When they stopped at the broken tracks they could see Spaceship Earth at Epcot and the Tower of Terror over at DHS.

The next ride we wanted to get in before the crowds arrived was Dinosaur!, which is another ride we had never been on. When we regrouped, we decided that I’d go get fastpasses to Kali River Rapids, while the rest of them started in the direction of Dinosaur!, and then I’d catch up with them. I decided to take a few pictures along the way.

I saw this in someone else’s trip report. The roofline of this shrine lines up with the peaks of Everest.

They think of everything at Disney, don’t they?!

Here are the crowds, or lack thereof, as I went through Asia. A DVC sales booth is in the middle of this picture -- "Kshana Travel Company".

Continued in next post….

Link to next post

 

[glennbo123]

I got Kali fastpasses for 10:20.

About this time Judy called me to tell me they were going to go on Primeval Whirl while they waited for me. No problem, since I didn’t have to rush so much I could take more pictures. Here are some signs I thought were neat. I like the corrugated tin roof on the building.

More great theming….backpacks of all the adventurer’s passing through here.

There is a sign in this area of the park over a water fountain that says something like, “This water is provided for your use. Expeditionists are reminded not to drink from standing water or stagnant streams.” I wish I had taken a picture of it.

This food station/bus is way cool. Later in the day there’d be no way I could get a picture of it without a person in the shot.

And a picture of Everest as I went by.

I got to Primeval Whirl and had to wait quite a while for them to ride. They called me when they were about to get on. I couldn’t find a good place to try to get a picture. Here’s what I got as they went by. You can only see Lauren and Marlene.

We made our way into Dinosaur! and I took this picture as we entered.

I enjoyed Dinosaur!, but the general consensus of the others was that it was too loud and too rough. Here’s our redneck photo. I didn’t know my wife could move that fast.

Then we made our way back over to Everest. I got more fastpasses. (Is it just me, or could I be a hand model?)

And then we used our first set of fastpasses to ride again. We begged James again, but no. This time I rode with Marlene and Lauren while Judy waited with James, and then since the girls had gotten to go twice last time, I went with Judy while all of the kids waited for us in the gift shop. Here’s a picture taken from the fastpass line.

And, yes, I finally saw the yeti this time. But in my defense, it’s pretty dark at the spot where you go past him, and you’re going pretty fast.

After our second visit to Everest (3rd ride for most of us) we decided to head over toward Kali River Rapids. Along the way, I saw a Photopass photographer at the shrine where I had taken a picture earlier in the morning (where the rooftop lines-up with Everest). We went over and got some pictures taken. Here’s one taken with my camera.

Then a couple of pictures taken with their equipment, with borders and all.

For this one the Photopass lady said, “Now pretend like you just saw the yeti.”

After taking the picture she remarked that Marlene is a drama queen. Now that I see the picture I agree. That’s quite an expression, but it’s not quite “I just saw a yeti!”. It looks more like something out of “Gone With The Wind” or “Doctor Zhivago” or something.

We continued on. I took this picture of the monkey area, although there weren’t a lot of monkeys out yet.

Then we used our fastpasses on Kali River Rapids. The highlight here (for everyone but me) was that I was the one who got soaked. When we got to the “big drop”, I was at the top of the boat. If it had just continued down without spinning I would have been fine. But no. It was slowly turning, and I was thinking, “this isn’t good.” By the time we got to the bottom, I was at the front of the boat and when we hit the water a huge wave came up and over and soaked me from head to toe. Leaving the ride, I could hear people saying things like, “Holy cow. Look at that guy. He got soaked.” Fortunately we had some microfiber towels that my wife sells in her direct-selling business (pm me for more info!) in our backpack, so I was soon getting dry. And, this soaking would soon pay some unexpected dividends.


In the next installment: Two sets of fastpasses in a span of about 10 minutes.

Link to next installment

 

[eandesmom]

an update!

I love the fact you got a picture of just YOU.

James took a liking to these plush, stuffed-animal yeti’s that they sell there and we were playing catch with one while we waited. I told him that if he rode Everest I’d buy him one. Yes, I was resorting to bribery! It’s terrible parenting, but I knew he would love it if he’d just go on. He asked if he could get one without riding and I said, “You wouldn’t want a souvenir from a ride that you never went on, would you?” Well, he’d think about it.

I do the same thing. Both boys wanted EE/Yeti pins before our AK park day and saw the stuffed yeti's as well. NO go. See todays update in my PTR for DS10's reaction after buying his EE shirt.

I saw this in someone else’s trip report. The roofline of this shrine lines up with the peaks of Everest.

They think of everything at Disney, don’t they?!

So cool. I hadn't seen that combo yet so I'm glad you posted!

This food station/bus is way cool. Later in the day there’d be no way I could get a picture of it without a person in the shot.

I enjoyed Dinosaur!, but the general consensus of the others was that it was too loud and too rough.

And, yes, I finally saw the yeti this time. But in my defense, it’s pretty dark at the spot where you go past him, and you’re going pretty fast.

Fortunately we had some microfiber towels that my wife sells in her direct-selling business (pm me for more info!) in our backpack, so I was soon getting dry. And, this soaking would soon pay some unexpected dividends.

Love the food station. Walked by it a bunch, never thought to take a snap. What a great shot!

The bulk of our group felt the same about Dinosaur. Oh wait, it was just the GUYS that felt that way! For me, well, it cracks me up for some inexplicable reason.

Sure. Yeti. Dark. If you say so.

Those towels sound interesting.....

Great updates!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[glennbo123]

I love the fact you got a picture of just YOU.

Since I'm taking all the pictures, I'm not in many of them. And I had to wait for rope-drop anyway, so I figured what the heck. And I have a confession to make -- that move where people hold their camera at arms-length to take a picture of themselves....I can't do it. They just don't look right. I think you have to have been born after 1980 to pull that off.

I do the same thing. Both boys wanted EE/Yeti pins before our AK park day and saw the stuffed yeti's as well. NO go. See todays update in my PTR for DS10's reaction after buying his EE shirt.

Thanks for directing me to your latest update. Great story, I commented on your thread.

Sure. Yeti. Dark. If you say so.

I figured somebody would call me on that, but in the first post?!

Great updates!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you!

 

[jordanyosh]

Your pix and your descriptions of AK were awesome!

Here's the picture you didn't get. I never posted it on my TR because it's out of focus. I love the sign too. Great minds think alike.

 

[glennbo123]

Your pix and your descriptions of AK were awesome!

Glad you like 'em.

Here's the picture you didn't get. I never posted it on my TR because it's out of focus. I love the sign too. Great minds think alike.

That's the one! Nice catch.

"Trekkers" was the word....I couldn't remember if it started off with Adventurers, or Expeditionists (I almost typed Exhibitionists), or what.

 

[eandesmom]

Since I'm taking all the pictures, I'm not in many of them. And I had to wait for rope-drop anyway, so I figured what the heck. And I have a confession to make -- that move where people hold their camera at arms-length to take a picture of themselves....I can't do it. They just don't look right. I think you have to have been born after 1980 to pull that off.

I figured somebody would call me on that, but in the first post?!

I hear you, I don't have one of just me from out trip. Although I don't have one of just DH either...bad photographer! My Dh will do the arm thing for "couple" shots, they are hysterical. Perhaps if you're gumby it'd work better.

Honored to call you out in the first post, the hiddien blessing of being on west coast time.

 

[Tribilín]

I took this picture of one train, it’s not Judy and the girls’, but I thought it was kind of funny. The people in the first row are hugging, and the people in the next several rows remind me of that scene from Airplane! -- “Assume crash positions!”

LOL!

Last year I went to WDW with my sister´s family, and my nephew (then 6, and in his first trip to WDW) really got the hang of the so called "thrill rides". But unfortunately EE was too dark for his taste so we rode it only once... yes my first and only ride on EE to date... we even had FPs for a second ride in a row but we didn´t use them (kept them like a souvenir) I really love my family

Would you believe he rode RnR like 3 times in a row but one HM trip was one too many for him ?

 

[jordanyosh]

The theming of AK and AKL is so amazing. I really can just walk around the park and see new things every time....something as simple as a sign over a water fountain....so cool.

 

[disbugsmomma]

I'm finally caught up and I'm loving this TR! I have yet to make it onto EE and just last year made it onto RnR. I can't wait to read more. And see more pictures.

 

[winkers]

Bribery my friend, is part of parenting 101

I've used it many times sometimes it even works.

I love the seeing the yeti picture.

I haven't braved Kali yet because I don't enjoy being fully clothed and wet, at the same time.
I've decided to try it on our next trip but I will be armed with a rain coat, rubber boots and umbrella.

 

[jordanyosh]

I haven't braved Kali yet because I don't enjoy being fully clothed and wet, at the same time.
I've decided to try it on our next trip but I will be armed with a rain coat, rubber boots and umbrella.

Please take a picture of that

 

[winkers]

Please take a picture of that

that would make a great flat winkers!

I'm sure I'd end up in someone's trip report...instead of the guy in a kilt it would me moi.

 

[jordanyosh]

that would make a great flat winkers!

I'm sure I'd end up in someone's trip report...instead of the guy in a kilt it would me moi.

It would be you! Ha!

sorry glenn for going on a tangent.