northernmouse
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Nov 22, 2001
- Messages
- 199
It's day (and night) three of our 4/3 'once in a lifetime' WDW DCL trip, and once again, we (self, DH & DSS) are up with the ducks at the Poly. DH (who is very excited) went to fetch breakfast at Captain Cook's, so we can be in the car by 7:30 because today is the long-awaited Richard Petty Rookie Experience day. (pause, please, for drum roll and testosterone infusion here)
The 'experience' is an early birthday gift from his dearly beloved in an on-going effort to earn reward points as 'wife of the year' (handy at those other times of the year when the dearly beloved is not considered quite so thoughtful or charming).
We arrive at the Disney speedway approximately two minutes later, and find he is the only person registered for the class that morning. For a fee, the 8 lap experience becomes a 16 lap experience, and I get a few more bonus points as WOTY.
The DH attends class (as do the DSS and I since there was plenty of room), goes through the saftey drills, hands in his waiver (complete with numerous reminders we cannot sue anybody who even so much as looked at the car should things go very badly), and we go for a van ride around the track.
Then, the husband gets into his car, taking great care to follow the entry instructions. The doors are welded shut, so you have to slide in the window, behind the steering column, which has the steering wheel removed. That makes the column a rather hazardous obstacle which could really ruin his day. Safely in his seat, he's tightly strapped in, the wheel is re-attached, and he is thrilled to start the engine.
He pulls away after the pace car, and I videotape men driving in circles, making that really neat "yeeeeROOooom" sound as they come around the near corner. The DH finishes his first 8 laps, and he is happy. For the first time in his marriage, I tell him to drive faster.
Back in the car for another 8 laps, and a top speed of 126.54 mph. When he pulled into the pit, and slipped out of the car, pulling off his helmet and chatting with the instructor, he was the perfect picture of a NASCAR star. Who must have won, because based on the smile on his face that morning, it was the Disney Speedway that was the happiest place on earth.
Before we finished, I decided to do the ride-along, which has you ride for 3 laps with a professional driver. It was a total hoot -- I loved every moment of it. And watching the short round woman with the big helmet on her head try to get out through the window of the sealed door was pretty entertaining for the pit crew, too.
Proving you can pack a lot into a 4 day stay, we were done before lunch, and headed over for our PS at the Whispering Canyon Cafe at the WL. Lunch was entertaining, but there was too much food. We thought the WL would be a nice place to stay one day.
Back to the Poly where the 'boys' rented a water mouse and I lounged in a hammock. Went to Epcot around 5:00 to do World showcase and view Illuminations. PS at the Rose & Crown was a perfect location. Left Epcot after the park closed, and loved walking through the park after is was virtually deserted. Very peaceful after a busy day.
DSS, now known as the 'Boy from Atlantis', insisted on another dip in the pool, and then it was lights out by midnight. Tomorrow is a full day at the parks and another surprise -- a character breakfast.
The 'experience' is an early birthday gift from his dearly beloved in an on-going effort to earn reward points as 'wife of the year' (handy at those other times of the year when the dearly beloved is not considered quite so thoughtful or charming).
We arrive at the Disney speedway approximately two minutes later, and find he is the only person registered for the class that morning. For a fee, the 8 lap experience becomes a 16 lap experience, and I get a few more bonus points as WOTY.
The DH attends class (as do the DSS and I since there was plenty of room), goes through the saftey drills, hands in his waiver (complete with numerous reminders we cannot sue anybody who even so much as looked at the car should things go very badly), and we go for a van ride around the track.
Then, the husband gets into his car, taking great care to follow the entry instructions. The doors are welded shut, so you have to slide in the window, behind the steering column, which has the steering wheel removed. That makes the column a rather hazardous obstacle which could really ruin his day. Safely in his seat, he's tightly strapped in, the wheel is re-attached, and he is thrilled to start the engine.
He pulls away after the pace car, and I videotape men driving in circles, making that really neat "yeeeeROOooom" sound as they come around the near corner. The DH finishes his first 8 laps, and he is happy. For the first time in his marriage, I tell him to drive faster.
Back in the car for another 8 laps, and a top speed of 126.54 mph. When he pulled into the pit, and slipped out of the car, pulling off his helmet and chatting with the instructor, he was the perfect picture of a NASCAR star. Who must have won, because based on the smile on his face that morning, it was the Disney Speedway that was the happiest place on earth.
Before we finished, I decided to do the ride-along, which has you ride for 3 laps with a professional driver. It was a total hoot -- I loved every moment of it. And watching the short round woman with the big helmet on her head try to get out through the window of the sealed door was pretty entertaining for the pit crew, too.
Proving you can pack a lot into a 4 day stay, we were done before lunch, and headed over for our PS at the Whispering Canyon Cafe at the WL. Lunch was entertaining, but there was too much food. We thought the WL would be a nice place to stay one day.
Back to the Poly where the 'boys' rented a water mouse and I lounged in a hammock. Went to Epcot around 5:00 to do World showcase and view Illuminations. PS at the Rose & Crown was a perfect location. Left Epcot after the park closed, and loved walking through the park after is was virtually deserted. Very peaceful after a busy day.
DSS, now known as the 'Boy from Atlantis', insisted on another dip in the pool, and then it was lights out by midnight. Tomorrow is a full day at the parks and another surprise -- a character breakfast.
