I'm Not As Tink As You Kronk I Am - Final Thoughts on Mustard's January Trip to WDW

[mnmrmustard]

Up, Up, and away!

Once around the park

Big Hugs!!!

Launch!

They sure can hold their breath well

Very cute :-]

High Five to Bean!

And to PumpkinGirl!

More pretty jumps

Shamu says "hi" to the crowd

He's got good balance!

Next - on to the finale!

 

[mnmrmustard]

Very good balance!

They go under and come up for the last big jump!

This is one my DD11 took - isn't it a great shot?!?

It was a really good show and a perfect way to end our evening there (or so I thought). We made our way out of the arena and followed the crowd back towards the entrance. Bean made a quick pit stop along the way to say 'hi' to some ducks

We just missed the fountain display out in the lagoon, but it was still very pretty.

The tower looked pretty cool too

We almost made it out, but ended up spending about 45 minutes going through a couple of gift shops. We picked up some cool stuff for ourselves and for friends. Bean was picking up snow globes for her friends and Pumpkin was getting jewelry for hers. It was scary how much we spent there - lol Of course we still could't afford gems like this one ...price tag of $10,000+

We again pretty much closed the park, keeping with our theme. I took a couple of shots of the little "harbor" on the way out

We drove back to the resort and did the standard collapse into chairs/couches and talked with my parents for a while about our day. We sent the girls off to showers and DW and I rolled back out to make a "quick trip" to switch out the printer we had picked up the day before (forgot to put that in my Day 5 TR). I had procrastinated setting up the printer and it turned out it was a dud, on top of being more expensive than we had intended to pay for one

We got to Wal-Mart and were given the run-around and were eventually told that customer service was closed for the night and we'd have to come back tomorrow. That wasn't an option as some reports had to be printed that night so we kept going from person to person until we got a supervisor and pleaded our case to her. She finally relented and let us exchange it.

By the time we got back it was very late and once I got everything set up DW had to stay up even later to print the reports. It was an exhausting and frustrating end to the day.

Tomorrow brings us back to "The World" ....but where will we go??? And what calamities are in store for us?????

 

[scottny]

wow when you update you go full throttle.

great pics. the last 4 were red boxes for me.

 

[earthfaries]

Wow, what great updates!

What a fun weekend you guys had ~ those prizes you won are great, esp. the night in the lodge. Sorry your DD was sick, hope she's feeling better.
Sledding looked so fun We had the best sledding hill in Fairbanks, Alaska where I grew up ~ it was at the University (or near it) and it was so fun!!! I miss sledding

Wonderful SW updates! The pictures as usual are incredible I'm glad you got to feed the dolphins and rays ~ the kids and E enjoyed feeding the rays even more than the dolphins! I fed and swam with the rays on Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas a couple of years ago so I knew how neat it felt with the suction but no one else had done it before and they loved it

We didn't go and see the dolphins under the water, next time for sure! Dining with Shamu looked like fun! Your DD sure did take a great pic of Shamu and the trainer! That show was amazing wasn't it?

Loved the Clyde and Seamore pics ~ and yes, the arm and sleeve part is part of the show...it happened in our show too

Thanks so much for the great updates and pictures ~ I can't wait for the next installments

​

 

[Leger13]

wow! I missed a lot these last couple of days. Darn work!

Anyways, I LOVED the pictures of your DD's feeding the Dolphins. That looks SO cool!!

The Sting Rays look really awesome too. That feeling of them sucking the fish from your hand just sounds like it'd be weird.

That is SO nice of you to give your cinderella 2008 pin to that MaW little girl! What an awesome guy you are I'm sure that probably made her day!

That's good that you got the girls faces painted...otherwise you might have been out of luck getting back into the park . The face paitings look really cool!

 

[Leger13]

omg that animal show looks like so much fun. You really are making me want to go to sea world next time I think my favorite "actor" is the Great Dane. What a cutie!

 

[Leger13]

SHAMU!! Love all the pictures you got of him/her? The dining with Shamu looks like so much fun. And the show, that's really the only thing I remember from Sea World since I was so young when we went there. It gives me goose bumps just seeing the pictures. I have to say I am really enjoying when you do an update. Your pictures are all so amazing!

And omg about the printer situation. When you said it would come up as an even bigger problem later in the report you weren't lying! What a headach! Your poor DW having to stay up even later and work. I hate it when a good day is almost ruined by a crappy night! Hopefully she got done what she needed to do and it wasn't a problem again after that.

 

[mnmrmustard]

Hey All! I know I've been really hit and miss lately here and have hinted about work stuff as the reason. Well things have finally come together and I am officially on my last day as a Network Administrator for the college I work for.

Starting on Monday I will be the Director of Network and Help Desk Services. Yup, I'm crossing over to the "dark side" and will be management. It means a raise and some better benefits, along with a cool title. The downside is that I'm no longer part of the union that I've been a part of for a dozen years (I had to resign as union VP today) and I will of course have more responsibilities.

So I'll continue to be kinda busy but certainly don't want to give up the Dis! Thank you for all of you who have stuck around to follow my continuing adventures

 

[Tat2ddisneymom]

The dark side?

As long as you're not going to be evil management, its all good.

Just don't forget about your Disbuds!

 

[earthfaries]

Congratulations!!!​

 

[mnmrmustard]

wow when you update you go full throttle.

great pics. the last 4 were red boxes for me.

Yeah, I had been working on this one for a bit and decided to post it all at once Those pics should be all there now - you might have tried viewing while I was rebooting the server.

Wow, what great updates!

What a fun weekend you guys had ~ those prizes you won are great, esp. the night in the lodge. Sorry your DD was sick, hope she's feeling better.
Sledding looked so fun We had the best sledding hill in Fairbanks, Alaska where I grew up ~ it was at the University (or near it) and it was so fun!!! I miss sledding

Wonderful SW updates! The pictures as usual are incredible I'm glad you got to feed the dolphins and rays ~ the kids and E enjoyed feeding the rays even more than the dolphins! I fed and swam with the rays on Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas a couple of years ago so I knew how neat it felt with the suction but no one else had done it before and they loved it

We didn't go and see the dolphins under the water, next time for sure! Dining with Shamu looked like fun! Your DD sure did take a great pic of Shamu and the trainer! That show was amazing wasn't it?

Loved the Clyde and Seamore pics ~ and yes, the arm and sleeve part is part of the show...it happened in our show too

Thanks so much for the great updates and pictures ~ I can't wait for the next installments

​

The weekend was very cool, but I’m glad we’re not doing anything this weekend – I want to sleep in lol Both DDs ended up getting sick, which added another complication to my week. DD8 ended up with an ear infection Both are on the mend now though.

Oh, I’m sure Fairbanks had some GREAT sled hills! It is a really fun winter activity if you can get to a place reasonably close to do it. We have to drive about 90 minutes to get to the place we go to.

Yes, the dolphin and ray encounters were really cool, but I agree with your kids …the sensation/interaction with the rays was cooler. Ooooo, the Bahamas! Lucky you – that’s one think we’ve yet to do.

The dining with Shamu thing was very worthwhile and a good mellow way to end a long day. And yes, Belive! Is very amazing. Ahhh, I was wondering how much of the “mis-cues” on Clyde and Seymour were real and how much was planned stuff …Hehehe.

You’re welcome! I’ll be working on day 7 this weekend and if all goes well will get it posted before I have to go back to work on Monday. Have a great weekend!

wow! I missed a lot these last couple of days. Darn work!

Anyways, I LOVED the pictures of your DD's feeding the Dolphins. That looks SO cool!!

The Sting Rays look really awesome too. That feeling of them sucking the fish from your hand just sounds like it'd be weird.

That is SO nice of you to give your cinderella 2008 pin to that MaW little girl! What an awesome guy you are I'm sure that probably made her day!

That's good that you got the girls faces painted...otherwise you might have been out of luck getting back into the park . The face paitings look really cool!

Yeah, I sure know about the work thing – lol The dolphin feed is something you should do if you go to SW. And yes, rays sucking on your hands is very strange.

The pin moment was pretty cool and still makes me smile Oh definitely, getting the girl’s faces painted saved the day for sure, plus being cool looking. It lasted that whole day, even with the rain.

omg that animal show looks like so much fun. You really are making me want to go to sea world next time I think my favorite "actor" is the Great Dane. What a cutie!

Yes, Pets Ahoy! was a real kick, very cute and entertaining. And I only caught a small piece of the action. The great dane was pretty cool - and a very big boy!

SHAMU!! Love all the pictures you got of him/her? The dining with Shamu looks like so much fun. And the show, that's really the only thing I remember from Sea World since I was so young when we went there. It gives me goose bumps just seeing the pictures. I have to say I am really enjoying when you do an update. Your pictures are all so amazing!

And omg about the printer situation. When you said it would come up as an even bigger problem later in the report you weren't lying! What a headach! Your poor DW having to stay up even later and work. I hate it when a good day is almost ruined by a crappy night! Hopefully she got done what she needed to do and it wasn't a problem again after that.

I know there were both hims and hers out there, so you're right on both counts I know what you mean about remembering ...I was seven the last time I went and I just remember Shamu and Clyde & Seymour.

Thank you very much for the compliment I really enjoy sharing them with everyone!

Yes, that darned printer really threw a wrench in the works for us. And unfortunately it did not end there ....the ramifications from that situation fed into another debacle the next day At least now we can look back on it and go "oh well"

 

[mnmrmustard]

Yippie, I'm at the top of my page ...hehehe.

The dark side?

As long as you're not going to be evil management, its all good.

Just don't forget about your Disbuds!

Nooo, never be evil management. As a matter of fact I'm planning a "retreat" for this summer ...have their morning be paid as "work" time and have them take contract time in the afternoon so we can light up the grill and pop the keg

Congratulations!!!​

Thank you!

 

[jordanyosh]

Hey Mustard.

I think I've said this...but you take some great pix. Those action shots at the Shamu show are AWESOME.

There was a bit of foreboding in your last statement, hopefully no more calamites....not like the plane situation....

 

[scottny]

it must have been because they r there now. Nice.

 

[mnmrmustard]

Hey Mustard.

I think I've said this...but you take some great pix. Those action shots at the Shamu show are AWESOME.

There was a bit of foreboding in your last statement, hopefully no more calamites....not like the plane situation....

Hey bud! Thank you ...what can I say, I'm a camera addict Yes, there will be some calamities, but fortunately the last that our trip will suffer.

it must have been because they r there now. Nice.

Coolness! And I FINALLY caught back on your TR

 

[Leger13]

Yeah, I sure know about the work thing – lol The dolphin feed is something you should do if you go to SW. And yes, rays sucking on your hands is very strange.

The pin moment was pretty cool and still makes me smile Oh definitely, getting the girl’s faces painted saved the day for sure, plus being cool looking. It lasted that whole day, even with the rain.



Yes, Pets Ahoy! was a real kick, very cute and entertaining. And I only caught a small piece of the action. The great dane was pretty cool - and a very big boy!



I know there were both hims and hers out there, so you're right on both counts I know what you mean about remembering ...I was seven the last time I went and I just remember Shamu and Clyde & Seymour.

Thank you very much for the compliment I really enjoy sharing them with everyone!

Yes, that darned printer really threw a wrench in the works for us. And unfortunately it did not end there ....the ramifications from that situation fed into another debacle the next day At least now we can look back on it and go "oh well"

that's cool that the face painting lasted the whole day even with the rain. Worth the $ then

you're welcome for the compliment

oh wow, more printer debacles to come? hope it's nothing too bad. I'm sure that HAD to be frustrating!

 

[mnmrmustard]

Monday dawns with fog hovering around our humble abode. We get together over breakfast in the kitchen/living room and discuss the coming day. I was feeling a little under the weather and I think the pace of the trip was starting to catch up with us.

DW has not finished the work she needed to do in regards to payroll so we agree that we will all go and then she will leave after lunch to finish up. She should be back easily before dinner.

Pop stayed behind with Precious and to pick up my sister from the airport (she was flying in from Atlanta). The rest of us hit the road and made good time in light traffic and parked right up front. The fog had cleared and it was looking to be a sunny, if cool morning.

We unpacked everyone and everything

…and rolled in towards the entrance

Here’s where things started to go a bit haywire. We were there in plenty of time before rope drop and the lines at the turnstiles were just starting to form. The girls had to use the bathroom, so we took care of that. But then DW started digging in her purse and “oh NO!!!” ….no tickets :0

We had put them in the room safe over the weekend since we were going to be at SeaWorld and neither of us remembered them when we were getting ready to go. DD8 wanted to tag along, so her and I jumped in the van and rolled out for the resort. I decided to be “mr know it all” and didn’t use the GPS, so we ended up getting back on I-4 using the wrong onramp and took a quick detour to the SeaWorld exit. I guess Shamu missed us

I got us turned around and we made it back, got the tickets and some more mad money from the safe, and were back out the door in record time!

And then I …you guessed it, jumped back on the freeway going the wrong way AGAIN and we had to take a tour of the SeaWorld turnoff. I guess Shamu REALLY missed us – lol. So around we went again and finally made it back on property and over to EPCOT. The one saving grace was that they had just opened up another section of parking so we again got a really good spot.

Bean and I came running in and we walked through the gates just shy of an hour later than we originally got there. I took a pic of the fam

And then a nice lady took a shot of all of us

I took the obligatory “interesting angled shot with sky and SE”

And then we headed on up the walkway to the character greetings. I’ve finally got my Photopass CD back, so here’s what we got from the wonderful Disney photographers:

After we finished up our little photo parade we came out and made a beeline to Mission: Space. It was still early enough and a Monday that crowds were light.

Standby was only 10 minutes so we strolled on in. My mom then got a call from either my pop or my sister saying she had just got dropped off. My mom hit the turbo boost on her scooter and rolled down to meet her. So DW, the DDs and I went orange while MiL did the green side. I got some decent shots as we strolled up to where the line was.

I’ll leave off with us about to enter the chamber for our briefing. Next up, launch time!

 

[mnmrmustard]

that's cool that the face painting lasted the whole day even with the rain. Worth the $ then

you're welcome for the compliment

oh wow, more printer debacles to come? hope it's nothing too bad. I'm sure that HAD to be frustrating!

Yup, it lasted really well - I was suprised. Well it wasn't really the printer at this point ...more the ramifications of not having it all together earlier Tune in soon and you'll see what fun we have

 

[mnmrmustard]

We return to our story as our intrepid adventurers enter the briefing room.

Ye ole space suit

And the girls and I waiting for something to happen

The ride was quite interesting and pretty intense (I was afraid to keep my camera out). They did a really good job of taking something that was originally designed for training pilots and astronauts and turning it into a surreal ride experience. I came off it trying to get my balance and brain back to the idea of proper gravity ...hehehe.

We headed outside after scoping out the gift shop. I moved forward between the pavilions and set up a surprise welcome

Here she comes!

I got a quick hug and then the girls ran up.

And finally back over to the rest of the family.

We talked about it and decided to play the odds and ride Mission: Space again. My sis was stolen away by the girls and DW and I rode again with my mom (MiL went to the control center). Coming off the second time I was REALLY wobbly!

While I was recovering I realized that our Coral Reef ADRs were coming up. I sent them on their way after collecting everyone's tickets and getting FPs for Test Track. I caught back up and we made our way down to the seas and after some scouting found the door to Coral Reef.

We were right on time and had to wait about 5 minutes before being seated. We were in the first big booth on the level right across from the water and as we were being seated we had some friends join us

After they left our drinks came ...DW got one of the cool glowing ones

And here's my ladies

I was surrounded - LOL

I tried to take some pics of the sea life but they didn't turn out very well

DD8 snuggled in with her favorite aunt

The overall atmosphere was great and the food was good for the most part. But there was something up with the vinaigrette on my sister and DD8's salad. DD8 wasn't very hungry in general. We finished up and snagged the cool glowing ice cubes from DW's drink and headed back out. I snapped this shot of the entryway on our way out.

By the time we were done it was getting close to time for TT, so after some discussion I decided to stay with the moms and go to the Land Pavilion while DW, My Sis, and the DDs went to take a ride

...while I got FPs for Soarin' and the moms and I took a more serene journey through Living With the Land.

More Land, DW heads out, and Tummies go Sour :-[

 

[scottny]

great update and pics.

ending up by SW twice. sorry not funny.

sour tummies does not sound good at all.