(Insert clever trip report title here 5/15-5/21) Last part now available on pg 3

[1000thhappyhaunt]

Oh.

My bad.

Pardon me.

Heh heh.

BTW... you crack me up. Loving the report.

Rock on soul sista!

 

[1000thhappyhaunt]

Edit: I'm aware you are not a girl.

 

[patrokls]

Interlude 2: The Weather and the Disney Zone


I’ll start with the Disney Zone. Mike Scopa from MousePlanet coined this phrase I believe. It refers to the bubble we encapsulate ourselves in while at WDW. That place where the outside world no longer exists and we happily buy silly hats that we will never wear once the vacation is over. It’s amazing how quickly we give ourselves over to the Mouse. Although I think this is probably what leads to Disney depression when the trip is over, but I’ll get to that later in the trip report. Anyway, for me this ties into the weather. I was so deep in the zone I don’t remember feeling the weather or hunger for that matter. It was probably a good thing we were on the dining plan. It forced me to stop twice a day and eat. I know it was hot, but not overly humid and that it rained one day. The rain didn’t bother me. I never wore a poncho or carried an umbrella. It made for easier movement. I was in serious commando mode this trip. They should make cameras in the shapes of binoculars or guns. Something to make you feel like you truly are “Arnold”. I know it was hot because people around me were complaining about it. I don’t know how hot because I only turned on the TV once and that was to watch Stacey, or whatever her name is tell me about Disney’s top 7. It used to be 10, but budget cuts took out a few. I was completely isolated from the real world and I loved it. Nine days of blissful ignorance.

Short yet rambling.

Next: The DAK and the Mother’s Day surprise

 

[patrokls]

5-18: DAK and The Mother’s Day Surprise

Today: Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

My favorite park. Blasphemy I know. I love animals (except my cats they’re so annoying) and I love the detail in the park. Check out the footprints and other impressions in the sidewalks around the park. Basically I saw everything I didn’t see the night before. Camp Minnie-Mickey needs to go away, except for Festival of the Lion King. By now I was feeling the effects of my previous long day, so I headed back to the room to relax by the pool. Sorry again to anyone I may have blinded with my pale northern skin.

Tonight dinner was at Boma. We went to the Animal Kingdom Lodge a little early to check out the lobby and the savannah. I was interested to see what I had missed out on. I had originally planned on staying here. Of course that was before I quit my job and went back to school.

Giraffes outside your room have to be better than cats. Right?

While sitting around the fire pit outside my dad gets a call from his “business partner”. He pulls me aside and tells me they’re coming tonight. I knew they were coming down I just wasn’t sure whether they were coming to dinner tonight (they were getting to their resort (All Stars Music) right around our ADR time, but they took a cab to the Lodge and were only a little late. I checked in at Boma and I told them we had five instead of the four our ADR was for and there was no problem at all. It was almost blown. The table was set for five and my mom kept telling the person “there’s only three of us” while my dad is signaling behind her back that there would be five. I covered by telling her they must have heard me say there was one more person instead of one less. We started in on the buffet and my brother (my other brother, I have two) and his wife sneak up behind my mother and say,” Are these seats taken?” It was great to watch her face go from “who the heck are these people” to “Oh my God”. This was defiantly one of those true Disney Moments, and also one of the reasons we were so upset my other brother didn’t come. The family was supposed to be together. Oh well such is life. I may never get married, but I’m glad I have these people as my example to live by.

After dinner we headed to Epcot to watch IllumiNations. When Disney replaces this show they certainly have their work cut out for them. It’s hard to beat IllumiNations.

Early to bed for tomorrow is Star Wars Weekends.

Next: The Amazing Line

 

[1000thhappyhaunt]

I love animals (except my cats they’re so annoying)

Giraffes outside your room have to be better than cats. Right?

I've posted a bunch to your report now.

Clearly I'm a rabid fan.

Anywho... I found those cat references hilarious. It's because I'm a cat person.

I'm really enjoying your report. And your sense of humour. I'm also a humour person. Canadian spelling.

Mel.

 

[patrokls]

Thanks for reading. At least I have one fan. Canadian television is interesting to say the least. At least you have Don Cherry.

 

[patrokls]

5-19: Star Wars Weekend Baby

Time to get my geek on. I’m a Star Wars geek first and a Disney geek second, with all other manner of geekdom following, besides circus geekdom. I have yet to bite the head off of a chicken. Although I have eaten McNuggets so maybe I have.

Ok, I visited MGMStudios.org I chatted with some people who have gone to SWW in the past. I had a plan. Wasn’t it Eisenhower who said something about all the plans going out the window when the bullets start flying? Luckily there were no actual bullets just metaphors.

I got there early. I saw the keen opening show with the Stormtroopers. I charged through the turnstiles knocking down small children and hapless grannies. I made it to the line to get a fastpass so that I could get Peter Mayhew’s (Chewbacca) autograph. I got the fastpass. It was for 10:50a or something close to that. It was now 9:30a. I had plenty of time to get my merchandise. But, there was the line. It was a line of semi-epic proportions, a line that defied the laws of nature, a line that no amount of hyperbole could do justice to. This line, this amazing line. The line that for 3 hours did not move; yet somehow I ended up in a different place than where I began. It started out ok. The line was indoors, air conditioned, and seemed to be moving along ok. I figured no problem get in, get out, go see Chewie. Then the line just stalled. My fastpass time was quickly approaching, what to do? Well it was about this time that I decided I would be doing SWW for two days instead of one. While waiting in line they had a loop of Star Wars music playing. With the vast amounts of music from the films you think the loop could have been longer than 30 minutes. They also had an X-Wing that you could get your picture taken in front of. The picture only cost $35, but it came in a nice frame, I think, I’m not a sucker I didn’t fall for this. By now I’ve just about had enough of this line, but I had invested too much time in this line and I’m going to buy something gosh darn it (this is a family site after all). I’m sure there have been longer lines in the history of mankind, but this is new to me. Things got better when I remembered I had my Ipod in my camera bag. I’m a pretty introverted person and I’m not the type to chat up people in line. Finally, the end is in sight I get my collectibles and decide to have them sent back to my resort. Remember this, it comes up later.

Its 12:30pm. I’ve missed the Star Wars parade and the special Star Wars edition of “Who Wants to be a Millionaire: Play It” with special guest Warwick Davis. I have had neither food nor drink since 7:00am. My parents come to the rescue with a bottle of water. Yet, I’m still ticked. I’ve missed just about everything I had planned to do. There is only one thing in the park that can pull me out of this funk: MuppetVision 3D. I love me some Muppets, and these are the real Muppets from when Jim Henson was still alive. I have fond memories of the Muppets. Every Saturday evening my dad would make homemade pizza and the family would sit down and watch the Muppet Show together. They don’t make TV like that anymore.

Feeling refreshed from the Muppets I head over to Star Tours. Even during SWW this attraction has no line. After I exit the ride I see that I am lucky that I did not have to wait in line last year for merchandise. Tatooine Traders is a tiny little store with a line that must have been hanging out into the wonderful Florida sun.

I see the regular non-Star Wars version of WWTBAMPI. I don’t make it to the “hotseat” I can’t spell GOLD when under pressure. I see One Man’s Dream. It’s nice but we had a better display come to the Henry Ford Museum last year (Behind the Magic: 50 Years of Disneyland. I think it’s in Oakland now. If you have the opportunity go see it).

Once again I try to check into the Hollywood Tower Hotel. You’d think a fancy, dusty hotel like this could get some regular elevators. That service one doesn’t look too safe and always ends up in the 5th dimension and then a gift shop. Rock n Roller Coaster. I wish Disney had gone with their original plan of getting the Rolling Stones for this ride. They were too expensive.

Now for the funny part. I decide to go back to Wicket’s Warehouse (the store with the limited edition merch. known as Soundstage 1 the rest of the year) to see if they had anymore Darth Goofy plush. They did. They also had all of the stuff I waited three hours in line to get. Ha. Funny stuff. I did read, when I got home, that the LE pins sold out later that evening, so that’s something anyway.

Dinner at the 50’s Prime Time Café. I had the roast beef and a blue drink with an ice cube that may cause seizures. My brother got in trouble. He was wasting perfectly good chicken bones. He could have made stock with them.

We go get a seat for Fantasmic. The young man (a plumber in training apparently (there was more crack there than on the Liberty Bell)) seated in front of us was, trying to get the wave started. He eventually succeeded. I didn’t give in to the mob mentality. Fantasmic is fun, but I wouldn’t see it more than once a trip. It’s not quite worth the hour you have to wait in order to get a good seat.

Another long day. Bed time.

Next: SWW part deux and the Casa Bonita tour of Epcot

 

[luv2tvl]

You are cracking me up!

I had the roast beef and a blue drink with an ice cube that may cause seizures.

HA! Love that!

MORE! Please.

 

[patrokls]

You are cracking me up!
HA! Love that!

MORE! Please.

Two more days at Disney and a wrap-up left.

 

[pongoperdigirl]

Mel is right. You are funny. I think. No really you are.

I came here to read this after she said we should.
Apparently I am a sucker for peer pressure.

But I love it. And your sense of humor (or humour as some would spell it)(crazy canadians).

I can't wait to read more.

 

[tarheel]

I just stumbled upon your report today---well it's because Mel said we should. I am so glad I did. I love your humor and the way you tell about your trip. Good fun! Keep it up.

 

[patrokls]

5-20: Casa Bonita

Since I had missed most of the Star Wars activities the day before, I postponed my plans to get to Epcot early today, and headed back to MGM. Today was morning EMH. So I got there early and hopped in line for my autograph fastpass. Woooo! I got to spend my EMH hour in a line. Luckily, Disney was sort of stacking the line (they’d stop the line at a certain place and then move the whole thing forward as more people got into the line) so it made us feel like we were moving. If you want a surreal experience listen to a podcast someone made of the Epcot opening ceremonies while experiencing the MGM opening. Got the fastpass. Ate breakfast. Nutrigrain bars: food for the commando tourist. Watched some weird people over on the stage by Star Tours. Saw MuppetVision again. Met Chewie and got his autograph. Found a spot to watch the parade. When did the Empire loosen its restrictions? No offense but there were some slightly portly Biker Scouts there, and one really short Snowtrooper.

Jedi Mickey in his boss ride

On to Epcot. I wanted to see 2 things I had missed on my previous day at the park. Living with the Land and The American Adventure. Living with the Land should be boring, but its not. Weird that. Checking the handy-dandy times guide I see the next showing of The American Adventure is at 2:30p its 2:10p now. This is gonna take some wogging. It’s not quite a walk it’s not quite a jog, but you look silly either way. I make it in plenty of time to see the Voices of Liberty too. Bonus. I’m generally a pretty cynical person but AA always brings a little tear to my eye. It was now that I hit upon the idea of the Casa Bonita tour of World Showcase. You South Park fans may get the reference, but otherwise I basically took the handy-dandy times guide and tried to cram in as much live entertainment as possible.

First up a Kaki Gori (thanks Disers for making me aware these existed) and some Japanese drumming. China. A Chinese lady, in the lobby of the Chinese movie, of which the name escapes me at the moment, playing some stringed instrument was next. It sounded like the music in the local Chinese restaurant so I was happy.

I stop by Norway to hear the folk musicians and maybe ride Maelstrom again. 20 Minutes!? Maelstrom may be a fastpass, but I’m not going to wait 20 minutes to ride it. Those trolls will just have to throw someone else around. Those obnoxious little acrobats were up next. I could do that, but I don’t want to. Plus, I’m about as limber as log (it rolls down stairs). During the performance they ask that those in the courtyard please sit on the ground so that everyone can see. The ground that’s been sitting in the Florida sun for hours. The ground was fricking hot. So I was crouching on the balls of my feet hoping the soles of my shoes weren’t melting to the ground. Alrighty, one thing left: the mighty Mariachi band of Mehico. Alas, it was not to be. They were on at 5:00p and I had to leave at that time so I could make it over to the Animal Kingdom Lodge for dinner at Jiko.

I was dressed in only slightly “business casual” attire, but they let me in anyway. I did freshen up in the restroom. A little urinal cake underarm action and I was washbasin fresh. Dinner was OK. I think the appetizers were better than the filet. The wine was good though. Although, the only thing I know about wine is to look pretentious while drinking it. Sniff, swirl, sip, repeat.

After dinner it was time for the Magic Kingdom and some “Wishes!” Ok here’s my cute kid story for the trip. Its Disney your tripping over kids all day one of them is going to do something cute. It was actually on the bus to the Magic Kingdom. Little Erik sat next to me on the bus. I know his name because his mouse ears had his name embroidered on them. Either that or he messed up Erik and took his ears. He dropped his little plush yeti so I picked it up and gave it back to him. He then proceeded to try and give it back to me. I had to explain to him that it was his toy. I also got to tell him that the monorail was not another bus. It was cuter in person. The family was all wearing the same outfit. I then explained to his parents how EMH evenings worked at Animal Kingdom. They asked. It’s hard to know when to stop explaining these things. There is a fine line between knowledgeable and Disney Nut Know-It-All.

I wade through the parade/fireworks people. You know the ones who brought tents and sleeping bags and have been camped out on Main Street since noon. I make it to Big Thunder in Frontierland. This ride is really different after dark. I find a spot over at Sleepy Hollow to watch Spectromagic (on this magic niiiiight). It‘s a good spot to watch the parade from except some little girl sitting next to me kept hitting me with her multi-colored light sword (not lightsaber). One dirty look in her direction later and she put it away. After the parade I cross the hub and stake out a spot on the Tomorrowland bridge to watch “Wishes!” I wish I may I wish I might get this song out of my head. No a really liked the show. Time to run past all of the people packing their camping gear into their SUVs (Stroller Utility Vehicle) and get the fudge out of there. Only 3 parks today. I’m slipping. Time for bed. Only one day of Disney left.

 

[WeLoveThePoly]

Thanks for posting your trip report - it's very funny!

Oh and thanks for adding a new word to my lexicon - "craptacular".

Debbie

 

[dana0801]

There is only one thing in the park that can pull me out of this funk: MuppetVision 3D. I love me some Muppets, and these are the real Muppets from when Jim Henson was still alive. I have fond memories of the Muppets. Every Saturday evening my dad would make homemade pizza and the family would sit down and watch the Muppet Show together. They don’t make TV like that anymore.

If you like them try the Time/Life website. You can actually purchase the whole Muppet Show collection (from the Jim Henson era not the later one)

Great TR by the way.

 

[Hoosier Mom]

You can also rent them from Netflix. I think there is 3 or 4 episodes per dvd. They are classic!

 

[patrokls]

I've already got those. They also released the whole first season on DVD last year. Just waiting for Disney to release the other seasons.

Oh, and thanks for your positive replies.

 

[patrokls]

5-21: This is the end, my only friend the end

Check out day. How depressing.
Ok, remember back when I wrote that I had my goodies from Star Wars Weekend shipped back to my resort? Well, they were supposed to arrive Saturday, but I got back to the resort too late. So this morning I head to the store to pick up my stuff. The nice lady behind the counter checks for me and hands me the bag with my pin and poster.
"Um? There should be a big box back there."
"Nope. We’ll call the store at MGM and see what’s up."
(minutes later)
"They’re not open yet."
"I check out today. You know what I’ll head over there and find it myself."

So my one day at MGM for SWW has now officially become a weekend. After explaining my situation to about 3 people I finally get my Jedi Mickey Big Fig. Took it to the car. My parents rented a car. Re-arranged the luggage in the car. People bring too much luggage. Enough underwear and socks for the trip (a must) and then just one shirt and some Febreeze. Oh yeah and pants. People complain if you don’t have pants. Wait comeback I was just kidding. I brought more than one shirt. I don’t know what that smell is. Really.

Back to Magic Kingdom (The Happiest Stroller Parking Lot on Earth) for one of those watchcallems….um…Dole Whip that’s it. Also, had some fun with my Brer friends on Chickapin Hill.

Epcot. Morocco for lunch.

Norway for schoolbread.

Mexico for the elusive Mariachi band. Not here today. Curses foiled again.

Japan for the tin toy exhibit.
(photo not available)
I’m in total toy geek heaven. If you notice any empty cases there, I totally didn’t do it. Spent the rest of the afternoon checking out the countries of World Showcase. It’s like the real thing, but without the wacky colored money with old queens on it.

Some family friends from Florida came to the WDW for the day. They spent the day at MGM with my parents for anyone who cares. They bought us dinner at Raglan Road (small expensive beer, the fish and chips were good though). We returned the favor by staying at their home for 2 nights. They actually asked us to stay with them before we left. They live by the ocean. That’s why there is a rental car.

view from their balcony

Next: Life’s a beach and some final thoughts

 

[scrap4u]

Love your report. Heard about on Mel's trip report and she was right-you tell a great story. By the way, is craptacular good or bad? I think it could go either way Thanks for sharing!

 

[patrokls]

I think craptacular is when something that could be good just turns out wrong, but may still have some redeeming value.

 

[1000thhappyhaunt]

5-20: Casa Bonita

Since I had missed most of the Star Wars activities the day before, when did the Empire loosen its restrictions? No offense but there were some slightly portly Biker Scouts living with the Land should be boring. This is gonna take some wogging. It’s not quite a walk it’s not quite a jog, but you look silly either way. First up a Kaki Gori. It sounded like the music in the local Chinese restaurant so I was happy and maybe ride Maelstrom again. I could do that, but I don’t want to. Plus, I’m about as limber as log (it rolls down stairs). Alrighty, one thing left: the mighty Mariachi band of Mehico. Sniff, swirl, sip, repeat. There is a fine line between knowledgeable and Disney Nut Know-It-All. Time to run past all of the people packing their camping gear into their SUVs (Stroller Utility Vehicle)

Ok.

I know I played with your TR and changed it a tiny bit.

But... I LOVEDLOVEDLOVED all of this. I thought it should really be in one long undecypherable paragraph. Anyway.

You, my toy-loving, geeky friend, are THE BOMB!!!!

Please, for the love of God, stretch this TR baby OUT. Make it last. Like a gob-stopper. For real.

Sing on Soul Sista.

Cheers, Mel.