Like a Bad Meal (V Keeps Coming Back) - THE END! 1/12/09

[puggymom]

Before I get started on the actual trip of this trip report segment, let’s take a moment to talk a bit more about our third character, my hair.

AH, yes your hair, it wouldn't be V trippie without it

“Mommy?! THIS is the COOLEST song EVER!!!!!”

Love it!

Wait a sec – can we talk? Am I the token DISer with end-of-row-itus? Truly, of the literally hundreds(100s) of times I’ve parked at a WDW theme park lot, only thrice do I recall parking nearer the tram lane than halfway down. Most of the time, I’m within 5 cars of the end. How can that be? What are the odds? I don’t even get upset anymore – I’ve just accepted that this is my lot in life. It's not a lot, but it's my lot... in the lot.

I'll be parked right next to you in August

NOT close enough to beat the approximately 436 marching band and cheerleader teams streaming off the charter buses.

“Oh, we have room for you on this one. Head up to the front row and watch your step.”

LOL,same thing happened to me last spring, Karma baby!

Not that I’m competitive.

Only about as much as Murph

Guess who’s getting Busch Gardens Tampa Bay passes soon?

I loved BG when i went last year! Awesome coasters too!

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

This went on, and on, and on, and on, and on.

Until this one.

Crazy Train started playing. Ozzy Osbourne? You know, those first few bars?

Leo didn’t even ask…

“Mommy?! THIS is the COOLEST song EVER!!!!!”

That little man of yours has got him some Classic Rock taste!

Anyway, long about the Mickey-shaped electrical pole

I know not where this is! Please educate me, oh enlightened one.

Am I the token DISer with end-of-row-itus?

If you are, I'm the token DISer with children-who-don't-belong-to-me-hold-my-hand-in-line-itis.

At least he looked appropriately embarrassed. THEY shot me a dirty look. Remember that.

“Oh, we have room for you on this one. Head up to the front row and watch your step.”

That’s right. Ha-ha-de-ha-di-ha-ha, we passed the Line Cutters and got on FIRST, baybee!!!

See, there's this thing about karma and all...

But Busch Gardens Tampa Bay does.

I'm hoping to hit them up while we're in Tampa. I've been to Williamsburg and that was a great park and have heard nothing but praise for its Tampa counterpart.

Now if you'll excuse me, I must make haste to a bomb shelter. There will be some DISers along shortly with flaming torches and pitchforks.

Chin-about-to-drop-on-the-chest, eyes-about-to-roll-into-the-head face or not, you got yourself one cute kiddo.

Was psyched to see a chapter up. One that starred all three travelers.

Can't wait for more!

 

[Briarmom]

Well, I'm a noob to your trip reports, but I'm loving this one.

I was hooked at ;. I was going to ask if you've read Eats, Shoots & Leaves, but then you posted about it.

Also, my son is similar to your little guy. Lots of building of impressive contraptions and Kraken impersonations in this house as well.

 

[<3WDW]

I share your hair woes. I've got curly hair (and lots of it) that tends to explode in volume and frizz anytime at WDW. By the end of the day I could do a great Roseanne Roseannadana. That's why we never do photopass!

I think KS queue is horrible! They make it too wide. We always have people trying to pass us in it, so I have to tell my kids to "stand big"! Good for you for getting to board ahead of the LC's.

 

[jcc0621]

Back to Day One(1). After a decent night’s sleep and minimal time spent styling my new ‘do, Leo and I managed to get ourselves out the door – ON TIME!!! It was 7:15am Saturday morning and we enjoyed a quick, nearly traffic-free drive across I-4.

Who'd you kill to get all the old people off I-4

“Mommy?! THIS is the COOLEST song EVER!!!!!”

You are raising that child right

I’d just ask for a refund when we later got to CSR.

Did you forget?

NOT close enough to beat the approximately 436 marching band and cheerleader teams streaming off the charter buses.

Yep. There were a whole lot of teenagers at the AK that morning. A whole lot.

Remember? Safari, tigers, bats and snake-in-the-glass-box-next-to-the-bats. That was our touring plan. (NOFTGM)

I remembered

Entirely appropriate material just prior to an anti-poaching PSA cleverly disguised as a ride.

“Oh, we have room for you on this one. Head up to the front row and watch your step.”

That’s right. Ha-ha-de-ha-di-ha-ha, we passed the Line Cutters and got on FIRST, baybee!!!

Because this last AK trip put me over the edge. It was HOT. And it was CROWDED. And the place almost instantly puts Leo and I on our very worst behavior. Gramma, too. TFI.

I take it I won't be seeing you at AK in August then

Next: Do we make it to TL? Is it chaos and turmoil for the rest of the day? Stay tuned.

 

[KatGarcia]

I LOVE it when the cutters get their due!!!

I have mixed feelings about AK. I like it, seemingly better each time. BUT..it takes me until MAYBE 1pm to do everything I wanna do there. Then I'm good. For the rest of the trip.

Hope you have better luck at TL!

Great update...lemme get movin on mine now...

 

[boysmom5150]

WTH-----page 8!!!!!!I didnt even know this was going on!!!!.OK, marking my place and Ill be back to read.I knew you couldnt stay away too long

 

[jordanyosh]

Hater!!!!

AK is probably my favorite park...

It doesn't feel like a typical theme park to me......For me it's less about the animals and more about how I feel when I'm there.....

Occasionally I'm happy that I have straight hair.....

 

[Disneyland_Mama]

Hater!!!!

If only we had AK here, eh Jordan?

 

[DisneyJo]

Before I get started on the actual trip of this trip report segment, let’s take a moment to talk a bit more about our third character, my hair.

Oh V you and your hair do make me laugh

“Mommy?! THIS is the COOLEST song EVER!!!!!”

So cute

Wait a sec – can we talk? Am I the token DISer with end-of-row-itus? Truly, of the literally hundreds(100s) of times I’ve parked at a WDW theme park lot, only thrice do I recall parking nearer the tram lane than halfway down. Most of the time, I’m within 5 cars of the end. How can that be? What are the odds? I don’t even get upset anymore – I’ve just accepted that this is my lot in life. It's not a lot, but it's my lot... in the lot.

Really???? Good job we take the bus

A gentle touch on my shoulder, as an elderly man asked, “Mind if I pass you miss? My family’s up there.”
“Why not,” I responded, “they all did.”

Great reply V, I can't believe they did that

That’s right. Ha-ha-de-ha-di-ha-ha, we passed the Line Cutters and got on FIRST, baybee!!!

Woohoo

Not that I’m competitive.

Of course not

Awww bless him

 

[Wonders10]

I am soooooo glad that you have decided to keep writing trip reports. I absolutely love them!

Line cutters make me M-A-D, MAD! I'm essentially a very patient person who will spend 30 minutes with no frustration whatsoever attempting to get a child to produce a correctly articulated sound (recently graduated speech pathologist here), however I will admit that I have no patience for impatient people. Ugh. Just wait your turn in line people!!!

Going back to your pic of the luggage....I just wanted to say that I have both of those bags! I have the hipster (the small one) in a reddish pattern that I can't remember the name of and I have the larger tote in the same pattern as your hipster. Plus about a gazillion other vera bradley bags. I just love them!

And I agree 100% with hair being a huge issue when thinking about a disney trip. I have postponed haircuts/highlights/colors or moved up the time of said hair events simply because a disney trip was on the way. Hair is a big deal! Oh and I love the Real Housewives of NYC! Love it, Love it! I may have all episodes recorded on my DVR and I may admit to watching them over and over again until I pretty much have the dialogue memorized. Louann is one of my faves too - can't wait to see how your hair looks with her 'do.

Can't wait to read more!

 

[Goofyluver]

Hater!!!!

AK is probably my favorite park...

It doesn't feel like a typical theme park to me......For me it's less about the animals and more about how I feel when I'm there.....

Occasionally I'm happy that I have straight hair.....

I'm with you. Buncha haters round these parts!

 

[sorul82?]

Stop the presses! STOP THE PRESSES! Doesn't your AP entitle you to free parking?

 

[hematite153]

We were listening to the radio. And, with every new song, Leo would ask, “Mommy? Is this a ‘cool’ song?”
...
This went on, and on, and on, and on, and on.

Leo's "cool song" banter goes well with Jon's "Are we somewhere or are we nowhere banter!" Sing along...
...
Same song...repeat first verse.

How about math games to get back at them and teach at the same time.

"Disney's at mile XX. Look for the mile marker. Where are we? How far is it to Disney? What mile was it when we got on the road? What time was that? What time is it now? How long have we been driving? How far have we gone? How far do we still have to go? What speed are we traveling at? (speedometer vs. calculation (i.e. distance traveled divided by time traveled)--do they match? why not?) So, how long will it take to go the remaining distance? What time will that be?"

Adjust to the age of the child.
(We do these calculations during the 23+ hour drive from our home. It gets complicated at times, but, keeps our brains occupied.)

The standby time for the Safari was 20 minutes. ... We’re relatively small people, Leo and I. We don’t take up a lot of room in line. So, we apparently looked like a good opportunity for a family to shorten their wait in line....

We always seem to have this problem in the Kilimanjaro Safari line as well. I've always assumed that it was about people thinking it's okay to go around us because my DW is usually in a wheelchair. But, then we went with a group of 9 and got passed by about 15 people during the walk in.

Why can't people understand that once you enter the queue you've been queued????
(We went once with a group of 4 early in the day and got separated. Those who were ahead, WAITED for those who were behind to catch up.)

We always seem to have this problem with Soarin' too.

 

[sharkB8HooHaHa]

How did I miss this yesterday????

I have to say, I think we have the same hair. You just put in a whole lot more effort than I do. My hair was easier to control before I had the boys. Now it's crazy. Well, SC humidity might have something to do with that, too. I got the chin length layer cut several years back...I swear, every time I looked in the mirror all I could think was "holy *$%@, I look like John Melloncamp"...not a good look for me

Glad to hear the cutters got their due. Cutting never pays

And Leo is wearing his lanyard again! I see a recurring theme here. Will he want to trade pins in August?

 

[kykatt2]

Stop the presses! STOP THE PRESSES! Doesn't your AP entitle you to free parking?

For the Florida Seasonal Ap's no it does not.. which is wrong...an AP is an AP even if theirs is cheaper it should still be free to park

 

[askelton]

Crazy Train started playing. Ozzy Osbourne? You know, those first few bars?

Leo didn’t even ask…

“Mommy?! THIS is the COOLEST song EVER!!!!!”

Leo must start watching Atlanta Braves baseball. Chipper Jones walks out to this song. Love it!

It was just about 9am, opening time. Car parked at the faaaaaar end of the row…

Wait a sec – can we talk? Am I the token DISer with end-of-row-itus? Truly, of the literally hundreds(100s) of times I’ve parked at a WDW theme park lot, only thrice do I recall parking nearer the tram lane than halfway down. Most of the time, I’m within 5 cars of the end. How can that be? What are the odds? I don’t even get upset anymore – I’ve just accepted that this is my lot in life. It's not a lot, but it's my lot... in the lot.

This was us yesterday at AK and Epcot!

A young boy gave Leo a small shove and moved ahead of him.
And then it happened.
A gentle touch on my shoulder, as an elderly man asked, “Mind if I pass you miss? My family’s up there.”
“Why not,” I responded, “they all did.”

Good for you!

As we all approached the first CM at the end of the queue, we stopped for a moment and the CM engaged a boy behind us in conversation about his camouflage cap. He explained that he used it to go huntin’. An entire conversation then ensued about hunting all manner of critters and which ones they eat versus which ones are just for sport.

Entirely appropriate material just prior to an anti-poaching PSA cleverly disguised as a ride.

WTH?

For the Florida Ap's no it does not.. which is wrong...an AP is an AP even if theirs is cheaper it should still be free to park

The FL resident AP does include free parking but I think V has a seasonal pass which does not.

 

[PrincessV]

So here's the funny thing, AK is growing on me.

Like a fungus?

It's quickly becoming my #2 favorite park.

Oh. But... you haven't tried Busch Gardens. Trust V. There's a BIG difference!

Can't wait to read if you made it to TL - I think I'm making a huge mistake not going in August.

And that's all I'll say for now.

It does not matter what or who you are unless you cut it so short you can not do anything with it...

What's worse, even when my hair was super short, it took work!

Anybody know why Disney likes to put the EARLY GOERS the FARTHEST Parking spots they can ??

This is usually the case, no? First arrivals in the back lot at AK? For some reason, I actually managed to be in the front lot, but still at the faaaaar end of the row.

The solution here is to buy more points.

I WISH!!! I just got a card in the mail from my Guide - $8 discount per point if I buy another 100+ points. First, I need to win the lottery.

What would you do if you had to fly!!!!

Wait till you see my upcoming trip to Buffalo... I alreayd know I'll be carrying a rolling carry-on, tote bag and booster seat.

Please tell me the dumbells don't make a repeat appearance!

Nope, I gave up on that one!

I loved BG when i went last year! Awesome coasters too!

We so need to arrange a BG meet!

I know not where this is! Please educate me, oh enlightened one.

Well, you'll only see it entering or exiting The World via !-4 Westbound. Coming from Tampa, it's on the left, next to the overpass for the WDW/Celebration exit.

I'm hoping to hit them up while we're in Tampa. I've been to Williamsburg and that was a great park and have heard nothing but praise for its Tampa counterpart.

It's awesome! NOT Disney - you'll notice that upon entering the relatively unmarked parking lot. Note some landmarks if you ever want to see your vehicle again. But awesome in its own right.

I was hooked at ;. I was going to ask if you've read Eats, Shoots & Leaves, but then you posted about it.

Welcome aboard!! And a fellow semicolon lover, too?!

I share your hair woes. I've got curly hair (and lots of it) that tends to explode in volume and frizz anytime at WDW. By the end of the day I could do a great Roseanne Roseannadana.

OMG, I've always related to Rosanne Roseannadanna! SO I KNOW you feel my pain.

 

[PrincessV]

Who'd you kill to get all the old people off I-4

Ther'e were only a few and they were clearly on their way OUT of FL!

I take it I won't be seeing you at AK in August then

Listen, you'll be lucky to see me in any park come August!

I LOVE it when the cutters get their due!!!

I know, right?! It was a most fulfilling moment.

WTH-----page 8!!!!!!I didnt even know this was going on!!!!.OK, marking my place and Ill be back to read.I knew you couldnt stay away too long

Hee hee - you know me well T2! Glad you're here.

Hater!!!!

AK is probably my favorite park...

See my response to T above.

Occasionally I'm happy that I have straight hair.....

Few things would make me happier in the summer!

If only we had AK here, eh Jordan?

Want me to pack it up and ship it? I'd be happy to oblige.

Really???? Good job we take the bus

Oh, I'll have more to say about the bus v. car issue over this TR!

Going back to your pic of the luggage....I just wanted to say that I have both of those bags! I have the hipster (the small one) in a reddish pattern that I can't remember the name of and I have the larger tote in the same pattern as your hipster. Plus about a gazillion other vera bradley bags. I just love them!

Hi Shannon - it's so good to see you again! Tell me VB bags aren't addictive?! I just ordered a bucket tote and wallet.

Stop the presses! STOP THE PRESSES! Doesn't your AP entitle you to free parking?

Not the Seasonal pass, but with the savings I get, it's totally worth paying for parking a couple times a year. Seasonal runs about $215 to renew, vs. regular at $340.

How about math games to get back at them and teach at the same time.

Grea tidea, but I hvae my doubts about using it on Leo. Truly, he is the most stubborn person on earth. How do I know? Becuase I'm the 2nd most stubborn.

I swear, every time I looked in the mirror all I could think was "holy *$%@, I look like John Melloncamp"...not a good look for me

OMG, I just realized that IS kind of how mine looks when it's still wet right now!

And Leo is wearing his lanyard again! I see a recurring theme here. Will he want to trade pins in August?

Maybe. The lanyard is usually only a hit our first day. Watch for a trend in this TR.

For the Florida Ap's no it does not.. which is wrong...an AP is an AP even if theirs is cheaper it should still be free to park

Not exactly - the regular and Premium FL APs include parking; the Seasonal doesn't. But for the difference in cost, I'd have to pay for parking 10 times a year to make the upgrade worth it. Since we usually spend the night, and always on-site, I've never had to pay to park more than a couple times a year. There are also "ways" to avoid the park lots altogether.

 

[PrincessV]

Leo must start watching Atlanta Braves baseball. Chipper Jones walks out to this song. Love it!

Don't hate me, but I'm not a baseball fan. That said, if I were, I'm pretty sure I'd be a Braves supporter. Let's not even talk about the stupid Rays and all their baggage.

The FL resident AP does include free parking but I think V has a seasonal pass which does not.

JINX! Buy me a Dole Whip.