Jungle Skipper
<font color=purple>I know the secret of the backsi
- Joined
- Jan 19, 2004
- Messages
- 2,029
Part 11:
Jungle Adventures: DTD, MGM and a fuzzy night at PI
The Players:
Jungle Josh (22/m) - Former WDW Cast Member, Disney Fanatic.
Cousin A (22/m) - My best friend, a little nervous, quiet type.
Little Cousin B (10/f) - First trip away from her parents, never spent more than 2 days at WDW.
Our Aunt (55/f) - Buisnesswoman, loves to spend time at WDW relaxing as opposed to running the parks 24/7, has a walking handicap.
Little Cousin C (6/m) - will arrive with his parents later in the trip...Cousin B's brother.
Cousin D (34/m) - B and C's Dad, will join us later in the trip
Cousin D's DW (32/f) - Will join us later in the trip.
-------------------------------
Today is Thursday, July 29th....I hop out of bed this morning and open the curtains, it was quite pleasant out, not to hot, beautiful white puff clouds hang in the air...what a postcard view. I step out on the balcony and breath in the sweet WDW air, I take my camera and snap some pictures of the surroundings. The others are stirring, so I come in, shut the blinds and hit the showers. By the time I am done, the others are finally moving. So once again I scamper down to the lounge to collect breakfast....mmm..sweet juicy oranges.
After breakfast we call my cousins at the POP to see how they are feeling. Well Cousin (34) seems to be about 80%, or so he says...they are planning on going to the AK and then the Magic Kingdom. The three older guys have plans to head to Pleasure Island tonight, while my aunt takes the kiddos to see La Nouba. We plan to meet up at the Poly around 7pm.
My cousin (22) and I decide to head to Downtown Disney and do some shopping this morning. We go to the West End first. We browse through the HOB store, the Disney Quest Emporium and then hit the Virgin Megastore. Now I'm a music lover and would spend at least 1 night a week (probably more) at the VMS when I was a CM. It's such a complete store...everything you could ever want..seemingly every song ever produced on CD, tons of DVDs and stacks upon stacks of books...oh and more CDs. They have it all. Cousin and I spend at least 1.5 hours here today just browsing. He is on a mission to find the ultimate 80's compilation CD...and he does (driving music for the drive home).
I love all kinds of music and today I am browsing the Broadway soundtrack section....I am also a theatre guy, and a friend of mine who is now performing on broadway has reccommeded a few albums...so I check them out at the VMS. I find the one I am looking for, the Tony Award Winning Musical "Avenue Q". When I first heard about the show, I didn't know much about it, but after some research and now listening to the album, I find myself laughing out loud in the middle of the VMS. I must have htis album..so I buy it. It's a perfect fit for my off-kilter sense of humor and I find its overtones to be quite brilliant. With song titles like "Everyones a Little Bit Racist" and "What Do You DO WIth A B.A. in English" how could I go wrong?
Not for everyone..but certainly perfect for me.
So anywho...we continue out trek on the west end..We love Starabillias...some of the things they have hanging on the wall and from the ceiling are amazing...quite the collection. I keep my hands as far away from th credit card as possible Another of my favorite stores in Magnetron..what a wonderful collection of useless junk 
....my favorite kind of junk 
Such a fun place to look around. I buy a couple of magnets for a friend back home.
Then we head to the Maketplace. Cousin buys half of the World of Disney....I buy the other half...I seriously think we bought that place out...so many gifts to buy for the crew back home. We check out the Home Store and Once Upon a Toy (I'm 22 and still a sucker for a toy store). Finally, my favorite store, the Art of Disney. I am in search of the perfect gift for my mom...she wants a poster to hang above our mantle...only problem is strange dimensions. I am searching for a piece of art that is no higher that 2 feet and twice as long as it is tall something like this
_________
l_________l
Still no luck, but once again I must keep my credit card at bay...so much wonderful stuff to buy...I've got to remember not to bring it next time.
After shopping we head back to the van and drive over to MGM. They are setting up for ESPN the Weekend...something I as a sportsfan am hoping to take part in. Just inside the front gate is a table with all the info on this weekends schedule...I grab a schedule and slowly come to the realization that the majority of the events dont start until after noon on Saturday and we have to leave before noon that day...
Thats a real downer.
We check out the huge stages they have set up and are in the process of tweaking. I have a great appreciation for the art that is television production (having been trained and worked in the buisness for a total of 4 years)...they did one heck of a job. We head to the Great Movie Ride and check it out. We're hungry by this point and have lunch at the ABC Commisary (mm...fish and chips...yummy). We then head over to one mans dream and the Voyage of the Little Mermaid. We have fastpasses for Millionaire and enter the building about 15 minutes early...the man at the door hands us these pink tickets and tells us to please stand over to the far side of the room...we have been chosen to sit in the fastest fingers seats...We file into the room and I end up sitting right behind the host, so my big mug was on camera for most of the show...not cool Once again I finish am on top of the leaderboard everytime...unfortunatly the guy in the seat doesnt loose...and at the end of the show I am still number 1...argh...just my luck...stupid smart people.
After the show we see Muppets again and the backlot tour. We ride Star Tours....and experience something I have never seen, the ride stops in hte middle, shuts down the doors open telling us to leave..we exit and the CMs are like hope you enjoyed...the yhad no idea it had stopped...we inform them and they check out the pod realize a hose has detached and shuffle us onto another "flight" through the exit doors of that chamber. We ride this time with no problem..it was pretty odd.
We wander through the shops on the main drag and ride RnRC, I grab a FP for ToT and ride alone (cousin wont ride it). Now we decide to head for the Poly to prepare for tonights festivities. We grab some grub from the lounge...grilled chicken and rice, fruits and PB&J sandwiches..what meal. The cousins come over and we hang out in the room for a few minutes as we all get ready to go out. We change, freshen up and head out the door. We drop off aunt and the kids at La Nouba and plan on taking the bus home from PI tonight..because we're going to have some fun tonight.
Now none of us a big dancers, but we browse all the clubs.We head off to our two favorite places..the Comedy Warehouse and (my fav) the Adventurers Club! We arrive at the AC right after one of the library shows had started so we belly up to the bar..I order a round of Jungle Juice and we chit chat with Emil and Samantha. The bar tender picks on my cousin (22) by shifting his stool up and down...bringing on an onslot of toilet humor about Cousins "stool problems"...we decide that some water might be the key to the issue! So funny. This is Cousin (34)'s first tiem here..and he's hooked. We see a couple of shows and knock back a few more Jungle Juices then head to the Comedy Warehouse...we sit at a table down front, order some drinks and get to see a wonderful performance.
Next we hit the Jazz Club for a late set and a drink....then back to the AC, then it gets fuzzy..I know we saw another show of the Comedy Warehouse and I think we closed down the AC..well according to my room charges drinks were bought at last call from the AC...so thats a good indication. We manage to make our way back to the Poly and Cousin (34) who cut himself off the bar at 11pm collects the kids and head back to POP....has to carry little cousin (6) to the car.
What a GREAT night. It was CM night so I ran into soem old buddies and we just had a good time...we enjoyed ourselves...and we drank some..but we know our limits....all in good fun. Something tells me tomorrow morning isn't going to like me, but oh well. thats another day.
Thanks for joining me tonight....tune in next time as our trip winds down, the ladies return from their cruise, the final moments at WDW begin. Hope you have enjoyed my report!
Jungle Josh
Click Here For Part 12
Jungle Adventures: DTD, MGM and a fuzzy night at PI
The Players:
Jungle Josh (22/m) - Former WDW Cast Member, Disney Fanatic.
Cousin A (22/m) - My best friend, a little nervous, quiet type.
Little Cousin B (10/f) - First trip away from her parents, never spent more than 2 days at WDW.
Our Aunt (55/f) - Buisnesswoman, loves to spend time at WDW relaxing as opposed to running the parks 24/7, has a walking handicap.
Little Cousin C (6/m) - will arrive with his parents later in the trip...Cousin B's brother.
Cousin D (34/m) - B and C's Dad, will join us later in the trip
Cousin D's DW (32/f) - Will join us later in the trip.
-------------------------------
Today is Thursday, July 29th....I hop out of bed this morning and open the curtains, it was quite pleasant out, not to hot, beautiful white puff clouds hang in the air...what a postcard view. I step out on the balcony and breath in the sweet WDW air, I take my camera and snap some pictures of the surroundings. The others are stirring, so I come in, shut the blinds and hit the showers. By the time I am done, the others are finally moving. So once again I scamper down to the lounge to collect breakfast....mmm..sweet juicy oranges.
After breakfast we call my cousins at the POP to see how they are feeling. Well Cousin (34) seems to be about 80%, or so he says...they are planning on going to the AK and then the Magic Kingdom. The three older guys have plans to head to Pleasure Island tonight, while my aunt takes the kiddos to see La Nouba. We plan to meet up at the Poly around 7pm.
My cousin (22) and I decide to head to Downtown Disney and do some shopping this morning. We go to the West End first. We browse through the HOB store, the Disney Quest Emporium and then hit the Virgin Megastore. Now I'm a music lover and would spend at least 1 night a week (probably more) at the VMS when I was a CM. It's such a complete store...everything you could ever want..seemingly every song ever produced on CD, tons of DVDs and stacks upon stacks of books...oh and more CDs.
They have it all. Cousin and I spend at least 1.5 hours here today just browsing. He is on a mission to find the ultimate 80's compilation CD...and he does (driving music for the drive home). I love all kinds of music and today I am browsing the Broadway soundtrack section....I am also a theatre guy, and a friend of mine who is now performing on broadway has reccommeded a few albums...so I check them out at the VMS. I find the one I am looking for, the Tony Award Winning Musical "Avenue Q". When I first heard about the show, I didn't know much about it, but after some research and now listening to the album, I find myself laughing out loud in the middle of the VMS. I must have htis album..so I buy it. It's a perfect fit for my off-kilter sense of humor and I find its overtones to be quite brilliant. With song titles like "Everyones a Little Bit Racist" and "What Do You DO WIth A B.A. in English" how could I go wrong?
Not for everyone..but certainly perfect for me. So anywho...we continue out trek on the west end..We love Starabillias...some of the things they have hanging on the wall and from the ceiling are amazing...quite the collection. I keep my hands as far away from th credit card as possible
Another of my favorite stores in Magnetron..what a wonderful collection of useless junk ....my favorite kind of junk Such a fun place to look around. I buy a couple of magnets for a friend back home. Then we head to the Maketplace. Cousin buys half of the World of Disney....I buy the other half...I seriously think we bought that place out...so many gifts to buy for the crew back home. We check out the Home Store and Once Upon a Toy (I'm 22 and still a sucker for a toy store). Finally, my favorite store, the Art of Disney. I am in search of the perfect gift for my mom...she wants a poster to hang above our mantle...only problem is strange dimensions. I am searching for a piece of art that is no higher that 2 feet and twice as long as it is tall something like this
_________
l_________l
Still no luck, but once again I must keep my credit card at bay...so much wonderful stuff to buy...I've got to remember not to bring it next time.
After shopping we head back to the van and drive over to MGM. They are setting up for ESPN the Weekend...something I as a sportsfan am hoping to take part in. Just inside the front gate is a table with all the info on this weekends schedule...I grab a schedule and slowly come to the realization that the majority of the events dont start until after noon on Saturday and we have to leave before noon that day...
Thats a real downer. We check out the huge stages they have set up and are in the process of tweaking. I have a great appreciation for the art that is television production (having been trained and worked in the buisness for a total of 4 years)...they did one heck of a job. We head to the Great Movie Ride and check it out. We're hungry by this point and have lunch at the ABC Commisary (mm...fish and chips...yummy). We then head over to one mans dream and the Voyage of the Little Mermaid. We have fastpasses for Millionaire and enter the building about 15 minutes early...the man at the door hands us these pink tickets and tells us to please stand over to the far side of the room...we have been chosen to sit in the fastest fingers seats...We file into the room and I end up sitting right behind the host, so my big mug was on camera for most of the show...not cool
Once again I finish am on top of the leaderboard everytime...unfortunatly the guy in the seat doesnt loose...and at the end of the show I am still number 1...argh...just my luck...stupid smart people. After the show we see Muppets again and the backlot tour. We ride Star Tours....and experience something I have never seen, the ride stops in hte middle, shuts down the doors open telling us to leave..we exit and the CMs are like hope you enjoyed...the yhad no idea it had stopped...we inform them and they check out the pod realize a hose has detached and shuffle us onto another "flight" through the exit doors of that chamber. We ride this time with no problem..it was pretty odd.
We wander through the shops on the main drag and ride RnRC, I grab a FP for ToT and ride alone (cousin wont ride it). Now we decide to head for the Poly to prepare for tonights festivities. We grab some grub from the lounge...grilled chicken and rice, fruits and PB&J sandwiches..what meal. The cousins come over and we hang out in the room for a few minutes as we all get ready to go out. We change, freshen up and head out the door. We drop off aunt and the kids at La Nouba and plan on taking the bus home from PI tonight..because we're going to have some fun tonight.
Now none of us a big dancers, but we browse all the clubs.We head off to our two favorite places..the Comedy Warehouse and (my fav) the Adventurers Club! We arrive at the AC right after one of the library shows had started so we belly up to the bar..I order a round of Jungle Juice and we chit chat with Emil and Samantha. The bar tender picks on my cousin (22) by shifting his stool up and down...bringing on an onslot of toilet humor about Cousins "stool problems"...we decide that some water might be the key to the issue!
So funny. This is Cousin (34)'s first tiem here..and he's hooked. We see a couple of shows and knock back a few more Jungle Juices then head to the Comedy Warehouse...we sit at a table down front, order some drinks and get to see a wonderful performance. Next we hit the Jazz Club for a late set and a drink....then back to the AC, then it gets fuzzy..I know we saw another show of the Comedy Warehouse and I think we closed down the AC..well according to my room charges drinks were bought at last call from the AC...so thats a good indication. We manage to make our way back to the Poly and Cousin (34) who cut himself off the bar at 11pm collects the kids and head back to POP....has to carry little cousin (6) to the car.
What a GREAT night. It was CM night so I ran into soem old buddies and we just had a good time...we enjoyed ourselves...and we drank some..but we know our limits....all in good fun. Something tells me tomorrow morning isn't going to like me, but oh well. thats another day.
Thanks for joining me tonight....tune in next time as our trip winds down, the ladies return from their cruise, the final moments at WDW begin. Hope you have enjoyed my report!
Jungle Josh
Click Here For Part 12
