Therapeutic Smile
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for Steve...
- Joined
- Dec 16, 2002
- Messages
- 195
Rarely, if ever, do Disneyphiles such as myself (and by "such as myself" I mean "from California") get the opportunity for an impromptu, unplanned trip to Disney World. The costs involved are just a bit too prohibitive to just jet off and go on a whim. However, thanks to my company and my recent promotion from customer service into marketing, I experienced just such an opportunity this past weekend.
I went to Orlando for the National Association of REALTORS Conference and Expo. My company was exhibiting there and I was brought along to demo products and because I know them probably better than anyone at the company outside the Engineering department (who, after all, designed them). I did not think I would have any time for WDW while in Orlando, but I made time.
I got into MCO around 9pm EST on Thursday, had dinner with some coworkers and was reminded that the following day at 4pm, I had to be pressed and polished and at our booth at the Expo.
Of course, this left me with quite some time Friday to busy myself... so I woke up early (about 9am or so), got in a cab and headed off to Epcot. Now, the smallest Park Hopper available at the gates is 4-day... so I could have saved a lot of money had I planned ahead... so I grabbed one of those and booked it to Mission: Space, which I'd never done before. Totally amazing experience, the lift-off just blew my mind, and I loved the "roles" of each "team member." A nice level of interaction for a theme park ride.
I then did Test Track, which is a personal favorite, then headed off to the International Gateway and the ferry boat to Disney/MGM. At the Studios I wanted to go on Rock'n'RollerCoaster but the wait was 70 minutes and I only had so much time... I was able to get on Tower of Terror twice, plus go see MuppetVision 3D and grab lunch before needing to head back to a cab stand and get to my hotel (back on I Drive).
The rest of Friday, all of Saturday and Sunday, and early Monday were spent at the Orand County Convention Center. My feet hurt.
By 11am Monday (the show went until 2pm), my boss told me that since I was the only one with something fun planned for the day, and since the show was pretty dead, I could go ahead and book it. I ran to a restroom, changed into the shorts and t-shirt I had with me, and cabbed it, once again, to WDW.
Because of the cost of the fare, I once again went to Epcot but jumped right on the Monorail to Magic Kingdom. By the time I sat down for lunch at 2:30, I realize that had I stayed for the length of the last day, I would probably still be in a cab on my way to Epcot. Instead I'd already been on the PeopleMover (I don't care if you folks do call it the "TTA" out there), Pirates of the Caribbean, Mickey's PhilharMagic (and OH-MY-GOD was that great!), and Big Thunder Mountain, had wandered through the Swiss Family Treehouse (I miss that at DL!) and had picked up FastPasses for Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Haunted Mansion and Stitch's Great Escape. The last, by the way, stunk. If you've been on it, you know exactly what I mean.
After hitting those rides I had FastPasses for (Space Mountain twice!), I decided to get back to the T&TC and catch a bus to MGM. This time, I made sure to ride the Rock'n'RollerCoaster (twice!) but since MGM was closing early that day (7pm), I head for the ferry boat, stopped at the BoardWalk for some nachos, and went back to Epcot. I grabbed a pint of Bass in the England pavilion before bee-lining for Mission: Space.
To answer your first question, no, I did not require the use of a "space sickness" bag. As for your second questions, no, I would not recommend scarfing down nachos and pounding a pint before getting on Mission: Space. The feelings were not all that... comfortable.
After another run on Test Track, I headed back over to the BoardWalk, hoping to find a seat at the bar at ESPN Club for Monday Night Football. Alas, the place was packed, so I got a cab and headed back to my hotel.
All in all, a fun time was had by all (read: me). This impromptu trip has helped me prepare for my planned solo trip this December, for certain.
I'll be sure to share that experience with you as well.
I went to Orlando for the National Association of REALTORS Conference and Expo. My company was exhibiting there and I was brought along to demo products and because I know them probably better than anyone at the company outside the Engineering department (who, after all, designed them). I did not think I would have any time for WDW while in Orlando, but I made time.
I got into MCO around 9pm EST on Thursday, had dinner with some coworkers and was reminded that the following day at 4pm, I had to be pressed and polished and at our booth at the Expo.
Of course, this left me with quite some time Friday to busy myself... so I woke up early (about 9am or so), got in a cab and headed off to Epcot. Now, the smallest Park Hopper available at the gates is 4-day... so I could have saved a lot of money had I planned ahead... so I grabbed one of those and booked it to Mission: Space, which I'd never done before. Totally amazing experience, the lift-off just blew my mind, and I loved the "roles" of each "team member." A nice level of interaction for a theme park ride.
I then did Test Track, which is a personal favorite, then headed off to the International Gateway and the ferry boat to Disney/MGM. At the Studios I wanted to go on Rock'n'RollerCoaster but the wait was 70 minutes and I only had so much time... I was able to get on Tower of Terror twice, plus go see MuppetVision 3D and grab lunch before needing to head back to a cab stand and get to my hotel (back on I Drive).
The rest of Friday, all of Saturday and Sunday, and early Monday were spent at the Orand County Convention Center. My feet hurt.
By 11am Monday (the show went until 2pm), my boss told me that since I was the only one with something fun planned for the day, and since the show was pretty dead, I could go ahead and book it. I ran to a restroom, changed into the shorts and t-shirt I had with me, and cabbed it, once again, to WDW.
Because of the cost of the fare, I once again went to Epcot but jumped right on the Monorail to Magic Kingdom. By the time I sat down for lunch at 2:30, I realize that had I stayed for the length of the last day, I would probably still be in a cab on my way to Epcot. Instead I'd already been on the PeopleMover (I don't care if you folks do call it the "TTA" out there), Pirates of the Caribbean, Mickey's PhilharMagic (and OH-MY-GOD was that great!), and Big Thunder Mountain, had wandered through the Swiss Family Treehouse (I miss that at DL!) and had picked up FastPasses for Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Haunted Mansion and Stitch's Great Escape. The last, by the way, stunk. If you've been on it, you know exactly what I mean.
After hitting those rides I had FastPasses for (Space Mountain twice!), I decided to get back to the T&TC and catch a bus to MGM. This time, I made sure to ride the Rock'n'RollerCoaster (twice!) but since MGM was closing early that day (7pm), I head for the ferry boat, stopped at the BoardWalk for some nachos, and went back to Epcot. I grabbed a pint of Bass in the England pavilion before bee-lining for Mission: Space.
To answer your first question, no, I did not require the use of a "space sickness" bag. As for your second questions, no, I would not recommend scarfing down nachos and pounding a pint before getting on Mission: Space. The feelings were not all that... comfortable.
After another run on Test Track, I headed back over to the BoardWalk, hoping to find a seat at the bar at ESPN Club for Monday Night Football. Alas, the place was packed, so I got a cab and headed back to my hotel.
All in all, a fun time was had by all (read: me). This impromptu trip has helped me prepare for my planned solo trip this December, for certain.
I'll be sure to share that experience with you as well.
