Making Good on a Very Merry Promise! COMPLETE!

[lovebuzzandwoody]

Hi Nicole! Sorry - I lurk more than post, but I have been reading and just wanted to mention that the thing they were building in August that your uncle mentions is indeed the Jedi Training Academy! It's open now and the show times (unless they change them) are currently:

Jedi Training Academy
In front of Star Tours
20-minute shows
9:40, 10:40 & 11:40am, 12:30, 1:20, 2:10, 3:45 & 4:45pm

I think I remember that your boys are Star Wars fanatics, as is mine! So this is a not-to-be-missed attraction for us! I have read that wearing a bright color and/or making a sign that says "Pick Me" or "The Force Is Strong in Me" or something like that might help get them picked to participate!

Toy Story Mania is (I believe) going to be on Mickey Avenue!

Good luck! Love your report!

Sara

Hi Sara! I'm glad to know you are still with me!

Yes, my sons, esp. Evan, are soooo excited about the jedi training. We've been following this thread http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1612872. I knew they did this for Star Wars Weekend (which we are very unlikely to EVER be there for) so I was really hyped to see it's an all the time thing now.

Side note~ I just read on msn.com this morning that Geo. Lucas is developing a Star Wars tv show... to be based on secondary characters rather than the Skywalkers and Vader. Should be a very popular show at our house!

 

[Poohtigeey]

Wow! Look at Sara w/ the inside scoop! She's come a long way since her last Disney trip! (Check it out, it's awful!)

Thanks to you all. Just when I think I know EVERYTHING about Disney, here comes more info!

Here ya go Nicole,

 

[Poohtigeey]

Every meal we have ever had there was good. We have been about 8-10 times. I do hear a lot of negatives about it, yet it is one of the hardest ADR to get. I know the atmosphere is AWESOME, but I don't think people keep going back just for that

The thing is on these boards I can find negatives about EVERY single restaurant on property. It seems that people try to find the negatives and are reserved to talk about the possitives.

I thought I was the only one that noticed that! You could probably find someone on here who hates Mickey if ya wanted to! Seriously, if they hate so much about Disney WHY ARE THEY ON HERE?! How can you hate Fantasmic? I just don't get people! We also liked Sci Fi. We are not food critics and don't like fancy stuff like capers and exotic flavors! (Yes, we're still eating at Boma!) Sorry for my rant. I come here for advice and to go crazy over Disney w/ people who love it as much as me, so it makes me sad to see angry/mean posts!

 

[OrangeBlossom15]

Ok I am sooo stealing your idea for the index cards. That is so cool !

I think that you have talked me into going to Epcot on our next trip. I have always wanted to do Soaring. Your list looks like a lot of fun.

Can't wait to hear more !

 

[lovebuzzandwoody]

I think ya'll are right about Sci-Fi and other negativity in general. Not everyone is going to love everything... that is why the World offers so many choices! Like capers!

Orangie ~ steal away! You know you can count on me to share with my real-live friends!

SHARING HERE ~ I am going to go ahead and post what I pulled off the secrets thread. It is only stuff that I found interesting, not everything that was listed on there. It is also not in any particular order. I sorted them by location when I went to put them on the cards. The thing I like most about this card system is that I keep them next to the computer and when I read something I want to remember I just grab one and jot it down, punch a whole and stick it on the ring.

Anyway, I will post it next so it can be printed if anyone wants it. I'm sure everyone probably already knows this but if you click on the post # in the corner it will pull up a page with just that post so you can print just that.

If you don't want my "secrets" then ignore my next post!

 

[lovebuzzandwoody]

Location of Ice Station Cool: if you are looking at an epcot map, it is located at one of the four innoventions. It is the innoventions across from the fountain on the right hand (west) side (going towards the countries). If you are looking at the map you can see a little white cave right above the restroom and just below a kodak picture spot. Beverly...ICK!!

When you’re in line for Indiana Jones you go past a well. If you pull on the rope you'll hear someone down in the well.

If you're by the Haunted Mansion at night, look up at the top story right above the front door. If you watch it for a while you'll notice a light pass by it and some shadows, it looks like 2 people are walking by with a lantern.

Devine at AK. You can find her most mornings on the walk between Asia and Africa, usually between Flights of Wonder and Africa.


The walkway that goes from Mickey's Toontown to Space Mountain. Follows the railroad track. One of the few quiet places in MK.

The maze near the stage in the UK. It's a low hedge maze, so you really have to look to see it.


Finding the paintbrushes on Tom Sawyer Island.


Talking water fountains in EPCOT.
1. On the left side of the big fountain in FW as you are walking toward WS - right near Mousegear.
2. By the restrooms on the side of innoventions facing The Land. As you come through the center of the building walking towards The Land, make a quick left turn, they are right there.

The sidewalks that twinkle at night in Epcot. Take the right hand path after Spaceship Earth.

The shooting water fountains just before you enter the world showcase.

The some of the big points in Buzz are found leaving the first room. Turn around and shoot the back of the Orange robots arm or the back of the buzz saw. 100,000 points.

Look for the key under the doormat at Muppets 3D.

Haunted Mansion : there is a tombstone with eyes on it that open for just an instant.

"Singing in the Rain" umbrella that is attached to one of the streetlights near the old Hunchback theater. Grab the umbrella and step on the black square embedded in the cement underneath it for a nice surprise!

At the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids play area, climb the stairs between the garden hose and the slide coming out of a roll of film. There is a dog nose. Put your hand in the nostrils. The dog sniffs you!

Push the talking trash can in Tomorrowland. He comes out from Mickey's Star Traders every hour or so and roams for 20 minutes.

Eat lunch at The Pinocchio Village Haus and look out of the window that overlooks the loading/unloading area inside of It's A Small World.

The rocks in the water on the way to safari ride in AK as you go over the bridge, look like animals.

On Main Street, check out the old style phone in the General Store (on the right side of the street as you're headed in) Pick up the reciever and listen in on a conversation.


Dinoland Boneyard -- the play area is specially made for them to blow off some steam. If they look off to the right, behind the jeep, they'll see a row of fossils set into the wall. Just hit one and find out what happens -- it's musical! If you can't find the so-called "xylobone," a Cast Member will point it out to you.

When you're in HM in the pre-board show (hall of portraits), look straight up when the lights go out and the lightning flashes. You see a "dead body" hanging from the ceiling!

Wes Palm- the talking roving palm tree that entertains the folks prior to the gates opening at AK.


Halfway down Main Street, next to uptown jewelers, is a little alley way off the main street. One of these windows is partially opened and says on it “Music Lessons”. Every few minutes you can hear sounds from the lessons coming from the window.


Take the back walkway from Toontown to Tomorrowland and avoid the Toontown crowds.

A great place to watch Wishes is from the WDW RR train station. As you get to the top of the steps, you can stand or sit with a view directly down Main Street. Plus, when the show is over, you can simply just walk down the stairs and exit the park and beat the crowds to the monorail or ferry!

Strawberry Swirls at the Enchanted Grove (next to Cosmic Rays).

Next to Ice Station Cool, the Fountain View restaurant has great frozen juice drinks.


If you are the 1st person to get to Tinkerbell’s Treasures in the morning and ask to wake up Tinkerbell, you get to wake her up out of her box that sits near the register in the back. She'll fly around the store and then land in the dresser. You'll also get a certificate for waking her.


Tinkerbell's Treasures (the shop that is near Cindy's Castle). There is a small chest that looks like a lady's vanity near the front entrance. Over it is mirror that sparkle's Pixie dust every once in a while. If you look in the first drawer's key hole you can see Tink. You have to look in the keyhole at the right time, when the pixie dust appears on the mirror, to see her lit up.

Talking Goofy on Main Street: right by the entrance there is a Goofy statue sitting on a bench. When you sit by him he talks or snores!

If Star Tours is not crowded and you don't want to ride due to motion sickness, they can put you in a simulator and do a "flight check." You'll get the whole show without the motion! One family got to ride with Darth Vader and storm troopers this way!



Sometimes there is a Beauty and the Beast character "show" between the fountain and the perfume shop.

If you are at MGM in the morning, when the park opens don't go to the Tower of Terror or the RNR, go on the Great Movie Ride first thing with no wait and then go to Star Tours. You can ride Star Tours for almost and hour with no wait because almost all of the guests are over at the two big rides.


The talking water fountains are a) next to the splash area for children just before you leave Future World to enter World Showcase and b) next to the restrooms across from the Land pavilion, sort of on the 'back side' of Innoventions West.


Pathway between Imagination! and ice station cool. The pathway plays musical notes when you step on it!!!!!!


The camel in front of Aladdin's Magic Carpet spits water into the crowd walking by.

If you sit on the stone ledge on the side of the castle, you will hear Stitch giggle and tell you to be quiet because he's hiding.


Look in front of the Chinese Theater at MGM, you can see signatures and handprints of a lot of celebrities that visited MGM. There are even signatures of some of the characters too!

If you are visiting the WS during the Christmas season, check out the different Santas in the different countries.

The Radio Disney station in Orlando is AM 990.


When doing the World Showcase masks, ask them to attach a map
of their country with the charm. Most countries have maps with
a wishing legend on the back.


The outdoor model train display in Germany - it's a whole village
with a train running through, except in miniature!

In Japan you can buy an oyster in the water display,
then they open it, and give you the pearl!

There's a very nice playground in Norway, too.
It has a Viking boat theme.

At Pizza Planet – take note of the delivery vehicle in front.
Buzz is buckled in up front and Woody is the back where
He got tossed around with the tool box in the movie!


WS – Stop in any gift shop and pick up Epcot passports for the kids. As we visit each country and attendant stamps the kids’ passports and writes their names in that nation’s language.

WS – Kidcot stops at each “country” have a craft that you add onto as you go through them.

 

[KimmyDisneyNerd]

Thanks for putting that together for us. I am proud to say there was only a few of them I didn't know about.

 

[OrangeBlossom15]

I think ya'll are right about Sci-Fi and other negativity in general. Not everyone is going to love everything... that is why the World offers so many choices! Like capers!

Orangie ~ steal away! You know you can count on me to share with my real-live friends!

Anyway, I will post it next so it can be printed if anyone wants it. I'm sure everyone probably already knows this but if you click on the post # in the corner it will pull up a page with just that post so you can print just that.

I didn't know that ! Learn something new everyday

I printed mine out to read later .... Thanks

 

[Trentmom]

I think ya'll are right about Sci-Fi and other negativity in general. Not everyone is going to love everything... that is why the World offers so many choices! Like capers!

Orangie ~ steal away! You know you can count on me to share with my real-live friends!

SHARING HERE ~ I am going to go ahead and post what I pulled off the secrets thread. It is only stuff that I found interesting, not everything that was listed on there. It is also not in any particular order. I sorted them by location when I went to put them on the cards. The thing I like most about this card system is that I keep them next to the computer and when I read something I want to remember I just grab one and jot it down, punch a whole and stick it on the ring.

Anyway, I will post it next so it can be printed if anyone wants it. I'm sure everyone probably already knows this but if you click on the post # in the corner it will pull up a page with just that post so you can print just that.

If you don't want my "secrets" then ignore my next post!

Thank you for the secrets. I put them in my favorites.

BTW....I had no idea you could click on the post number and only it would print....You learn smething new everyday on here

Thanks

 

[OrangeBlossom15]

Thank you for the secrets. I put them in my favorites.

BTW....I had no idea you could click on the post number and only it would print....You learn smething new everyday on here

Thanks

Hm seems like I heard that somewhere before

 

[1gr8mouse]

Okay, here is my 2cents....
Fantasmic is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G (for me it is the one thing I will not miss)

Sci-fi is so FUN (we think the food is pretty good)

Singing in the rain umbrella is def still there....

GMR, the car ALWAYS stops in the same spot, so you will see the shoot-out every single time.

Beauty and the Beast is beautiful but sometimes boring for little kids (depending on the kids, of course)

Lights, motors, action! Is cool

TOT, ya what you have said already.....

OK, Help me with GMR: We have rode it where the car stops in the western town and have a shootout and a cowboy takes over the car and rides into the Indiana Jones set and tries to steal the jewel.
Then, we have stopped in the 1920's or so set and have a shootout and then the gangster gets in the car and rides in it to the Indiana Jones set and tries to steal the jewel......
Both result in the same thing.....they get killed and the orig. guide comes back into the car......
Am I right, or all messed up????

 

[Trentmom]

Hm seems like I heard that somewhere before

 

[KimmyDisneyNerd]

OK, Help me with GMR: We have rode it where the car stops in the western town and have a shootout and a cowboy takes over the car and rides into the Indiana Jones set and tries to steal the jewel.
Then, we have stopped in the 1920's or so set and have a shootout and then the gangster gets in the car and rides in it to the Indiana Jones set and tries to steal the jewel......
Both result in the same thing.....they get killed and the orig. guide comes back into the car......
Am I right, or all messed up????

I have NEVER had a cowboy get into the car, it's always a gangster. The gangster has a shootout in the western town though. The car stops first in the "ganster" area and then drives into the western scene where the shoot-out happens and that is where the gangster gets into the car.

 

[Poohtigeey]

I vaguely remember a cowboy...I've got the ride on video! I'll watch it, and let you know!

 

[KimmyDisneyNerd]

I vaguely remember a cowboy...I've got the ride on video! I'll watch it, and let you know!

REALLY?? I would prefer I cowboy, if you know what I mean?
I asked my family and friends, and they all agreed they have seen nothing but a gangster, I'm intrigued...

 

[Tat2ddisneymom]

Now I have to plan another trip so I can find out more about some of those secrets. There's only a few that I did know.

And you gave birth to twins and won't ride ToT? I don't get it. ToT is not that bad. I would rather do it than give birth to one child.

 

[lovebuzzandwoody]

I didn't click the multi-quote buttons and I don't wanna go back!

So.......

Orangie and Sharky ~ I am so excited I taught you something! Doesn't it seem like yesterday that Sharky was asking me why my quote boxes looked different than everyone else's?

John, Monica and Kimmy ~ About GMR... don't ask me! I've never been on the thing! But after I ride it I'll let you know!!!

TAT!!!!!!!! ~I was soooooooooooo worried about you!!! I am so glad to see you at least made it out of bed today! Are you still sicky-yucky? I haven't been to your report yet... I'll go there next. I see your light is on!

 

[Tat2ddisneymom]

TAT!!!!!!!! ~I was soooooooooooo worried about you!!! I am so glad to see you at least made it out of bed today! Are you still sicky-yucky? I haven't been to your report yet... I'll go there next. I see your light is on!

Yep, I'm up for now. I have my moments and then I have to go lay down again. But I slept for like 50 hours in the last 3 days, that was when I wasn't on the bathroom floor. But I have compazine pills now, so hopefully that will help a lil bit. You're so sweet for being worried about me. I got a text message from Carla that said she and you were worried and how was I. I thought that was so sweet. You guys rock! Love ya!

 

[lovebuzzandwoody]

Yep, I'm up for now. I have my moments and then I have to go lay down again. But I slept for like 50 hours in the last 3 days, that was when I wasn't on the bathroom floor. But I have compazine pills now, so hopefully that will help a lil bit. You're so sweet for being worried about me. I got a text message from Carla that said she and you were worried and how was I. I thought that was so sweet. You guys rock! Love ya!

We were really worried! We were pm'ing about you! I'm glad she was able to text you and make sure you were okay because we all know... I couldn't text to save my life!



ALSO... I know some of you know this already but some of you may not so I'm going to tell you about a wee little medical problem I've been having. I know, I know and you may say But it kinda isn't because it may affect our trip in a big way and I may need to mention it later. I will try to make it as brief as I can.

For the last 15 months I have been dealing with chronic tendonitis in my ankle. My reg. doc. took x-rays and they showed nothing... not even arthritis even though I majorly sprained this ankle about 8 years ago. So she said rest, ice and Aleve. Didn't work. She sent me to an orthopedic surgeon. They said "chronic tendonitis" and sent me to physical therapy. Ouch, that made it worse. They then sent me for an MRI. That showed nothing wrong either. That ortho doc sent me to another one who specializes in the ankle. She said, yep tendonitis. She prescribed custom orthotics and also lovely 3/4 inch lifts installed on my favorite running shoes. The lifts made it way worse and the orthotics didn't seem to be helping much either. So I went back to see her in August and said, "I am going to Disney the week after Thanksgiving... please fix me!" And she said the next thing we could try was a shot of cortisone and to put it in a cast for 6 weeks. So we did. A cast... on my right foot... for 6 weeks. That meant no driving. It was TORTURE! So, 3 weeks ago I got the cast off. She said to take it easy and just try not to irritate the ankle. Well that has been easier said than done. I'm still in quite a bit of pain. I went back to see her yesterday and she isn't happy with the lack of improvement. She prescribed 2 meds. One is prescription strength naproxen (Aleve). The other is called Lyrica which is a medication for nerves. Not anxiety kind of nerves but actual nerves. She thinks that the swollen tendon is pressing on a nerve and that is where the pain comes from. Here's the thing. She said it could make me sleepy and some folks feel like it makes them dumb. Great! Like I need help in that dept! I took the first one a couple hours ago and I think I'm good so far. But it is making me sleepy. So that is the end of my off-topic whine session. But now you will know what the scoop is if I seem really stupid or if I come back from Disney and post pics of me in a wheelchair!

I, Nicole, promise to post our plans for MK tomorrow!!!

 

[Trentmom]

Hey Love.

It does seem like yesterday when I was inquiring as to why your quote boxes looked different....You are becoming so wise on the dis

Thanks for giving us your medical problem. I hope you are all good to go for disney. But if not, rent yourself one of those ECVS and enjoy yourself...