ShadowWind
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2004
- Messages
- 243
I went on vacation to relax from some medical issues that I had to deal with the week before, but I found out that Disney is not the best place to relax.
I was happy to get a reservation on the Florida resident discount for All-Star Music. I had never stayed there before, though I have stayed in the All-Star Sports & Movies, so I figured it would be different. I stayed at Pop Century on my last trip up there, and so I guess I got spoiled. Anyway, I needed a room on the first floor due to health reasons, and when I checked in, they said there weren't any available. I told them that I had to have a first floor room and I didn't care if the building was a bit far, but I had no idea that their idea of far was the last room in the last building as far as the lobby could be. I thought that the All-Stars were all layed out the same, but Music is the only one with that arrangement, so the room was way, way out there, which I didn't really find very amusing. Though I should have been careful what I wished for. A nice CM told me that I could probably request a room for later in the week if one came available. Good advice and I decided to grin and bear it. I also noticed upon eating in the cafeteria that their selection seemed to be seriously lacking, certainly not as diverse as Pop Century was. Having very little in the way of non-cooked stuff (like Tuna Salad sandwiches, etc). Still, not to be swayed, I bought my refillable mug and had lunch. I got thinking about it and I really wanted to switch to something that I would be happy with, so I went to the front desk and I asked if I could switch to Pop Century. They checked and the room was available, but they couldn't guarantee the room would be closer, but I knew from the layout that anything would have been closer. I was going to call a cab to get over to the other hotel, but they were nice enough to provide transportation. Upon checkin at Pop Century, they gave me a great room in the 70's building. They also gave me a voucher for the mug when I told them I'd already bought one, so I could get a PC one because they wouldn't let you use ASMu's mug there. So that was good. I highly recommend Pop Century if you are doing the value resorts.
It seemed that the trip was filled with running into the CBC and their filming of various events. At EPCOT, it was a David Usher music video, at Disney-MGM, it was a promo for the canadian version of Who's Line Is It Anyway? which featured some of the stars that were on the ABC one (no Wayne Brady or Drew Carey). I don't watch the show, so I don't know their names, but one of them was Colin someone who everyone seemed to be the most recognizable. At MK, they were filming something also but didn't see who or what. Never did find out if they were taping Who's Line Is It Anyway as a complete show or not somewhere on property.
I got seriously messed up by Disney over tickets because my plan was to convert a Play 4 Pass to a Seasonal Florida pass. But upon leaving, like an idiot, I forgot it at home. At EPCOT, I went to Guest Relations and asked if they could pull it up and replace it. They told me they would be glad to and proceeded to look it up. Now I don't know if this is conspiracy or just bad luck, but the one pass they did not have in the list (even though they had everyone I'd ever bought in my history of passes) was not there. I could not prove to them without the ticket in hand that I had it, even though I purchased it at Pop Century and that my bank had a record of it. So basically I wound up getting the seasonal pass anyway and was out $109.00 that I could have used towards it. Unfortunately, running back up there before June 6th to show them the play 4 pass exists is not worth it, and may not even do anything since they already charged the new pass. That happened on day 2, so it kinda set the stage.
I managed to visit 3 of the 4 parks during Extra Magic Nights which I have to admit was pretty cool. I'm a night person and I don't get up until noon (much to the chagrin of the housekeeping staff at PC). So I got to all the parks pretty late and still had lots of time to enjoy them.
Also got to do some things I've never done before, like really check out the gardens of Japan at EPCOT and Mickey's Jungle Jamboree Parade in AK. Had a great time exploring the many topiaries of the Flower and Garden festival. While at EPCOT, also took a sidetrip out the International Gateway and checked out Boardwalk. It was too early for Jellyrolls though, but there is some pretty fun shops there. Again, got some great pictures. Also at EPCOT, watched a few people fall for the Beverly drink at Ice Station Cool. Thought one girl was going to puke all over the floor. I had a lot of sympathy for the CM though that was in the snow room on the way in in a rain coat shoveling snow. Hope she was at least from up north.
Also checked out some attractions I hadn't went on for awhile, like It's Tough To Be a Bug that had no wait at all. Was hilarious to see the people jumping and someone left during the bug attack. As I was exiting, I noticed one lady who'd actually jumped up in the seat to avoid the 4D effects. I was kinda amazed that Dinosaur was closed during the extra magic nights, but apparently is closed right now for rehab altogether since the building's entrance was barricaded. Got to see Festival of the Lion King once again, which is a show I love. I had a rough day in the heat and some other things, and Timon apparently knew I needed some cheering up, so during the show he came over and put his arm around me and pretended like he was hiding. Cheered me right up, as that show always does. Also being there in the evening gave a whole new perspective to AK and I enjoyed taking some dusk pictures. I was hoping the Tree of Life would be lit up by nightfall, but couldn't stay long enough to find out. One of my greatest memories of the tree was seeing it that early morning (6:00am) that AK opened for the first time and how beautifully lit it was. Also would have liked to gotten on the safari in the evening, but couldn't get back there as body was giving out.
In MK, there was a lot of construction barricades up. Small World's is actually inside the facade, which leaves the "lobby" for a stroller park. 20,000 Leagues is boarded up as well. The Toontown Train Station was closed, as well as the Enchanted Grove soft-serve stand. Sunrise Tree Terrace in Adventureland, home of the Orange Slush was open, but partially boarded up as well. Got another chance to see Wishes which even though my view wasn't as good this time, still brought tears to my eyes. The narration really hits home for some reason. Since Enchanted Grove was closed where I got my favorite Strawberry Swirl, I found Miss Pott's Cupboard and got a Strawberry Shortcake Sundae which was about the same price. it was great, but a bit too much to eat in a sitting. My friend Jim the piano player at Casey's wasn't working that day. Didn't get a chance to ask if he still was there.
Also relaxed some at Blizzard Beach and enjoyed cruising the sidewalk at DTD, and getting a pina colada smoothie, which I really like. Also picked up some souvenirs (the latest souvenir photo book) and was looking for a small stitch plush or keychain to keep Figment company on my desk, but couldn't seem to find any but the large ones. Want to hear something funny? Blizzard Beach actually has photographers in the water to take your picture in Cross Country Creek where Ice Gator's house has the chimney that sneezes on you and right before the Ice Cave. I've seen everything now.
Pleasure Island has already started part of their test to open the island to everyone and charge just to get into the clubs. There were no turnstiles that I saw up until at least 9pm.
All in all the CM's were very nice. And I had to crack up when one guy heard me say that I just came from Asia outside of AK, and he thought I meant Asia (as in the country). I also heard a lady refer to AK as Animal Planet, which gave me a little giggle.
Well not a very relaxing trip with all the chaos that happened, some of which I won't bore you with, but it was okay. I have found that some of the Disney magic seems to be lost on me as of late, and I found myself wondering if I should have vacationed in the Bahamas. Disney is fun, but it's hard to relax when there is so many things begging for your attention.
I was happy to get a reservation on the Florida resident discount for All-Star Music. I had never stayed there before, though I have stayed in the All-Star Sports & Movies, so I figured it would be different. I stayed at Pop Century on my last trip up there, and so I guess I got spoiled. Anyway, I needed a room on the first floor due to health reasons, and when I checked in, they said there weren't any available. I told them that I had to have a first floor room and I didn't care if the building was a bit far, but I had no idea that their idea of far was the last room in the last building as far as the lobby could be. I thought that the All-Stars were all layed out the same, but Music is the only one with that arrangement, so the room was way, way out there, which I didn't really find very amusing. Though I should have been careful what I wished for. A nice CM told me that I could probably request a room for later in the week if one came available. Good advice and I decided to grin and bear it. I also noticed upon eating in the cafeteria that their selection seemed to be seriously lacking, certainly not as diverse as Pop Century was. Having very little in the way of non-cooked stuff (like Tuna Salad sandwiches, etc). Still, not to be swayed, I bought my refillable mug and had lunch. I got thinking about it and I really wanted to switch to something that I would be happy with, so I went to the front desk and I asked if I could switch to Pop Century. They checked and the room was available, but they couldn't guarantee the room would be closer, but I knew from the layout that anything would have been closer. I was going to call a cab to get over to the other hotel, but they were nice enough to provide transportation. Upon checkin at Pop Century, they gave me a great room in the 70's building. They also gave me a voucher for the mug when I told them I'd already bought one, so I could get a PC one because they wouldn't let you use ASMu's mug there. So that was good. I highly recommend Pop Century if you are doing the value resorts.
It seemed that the trip was filled with running into the CBC and their filming of various events. At EPCOT, it was a David Usher music video, at Disney-MGM, it was a promo for the canadian version of Who's Line Is It Anyway? which featured some of the stars that were on the ABC one (no Wayne Brady or Drew Carey). I don't watch the show, so I don't know their names, but one of them was Colin someone who everyone seemed to be the most recognizable. At MK, they were filming something also but didn't see who or what. Never did find out if they were taping Who's Line Is It Anyway as a complete show or not somewhere on property.
I got seriously messed up by Disney over tickets because my plan was to convert a Play 4 Pass to a Seasonal Florida pass. But upon leaving, like an idiot, I forgot it at home. At EPCOT, I went to Guest Relations and asked if they could pull it up and replace it. They told me they would be glad to and proceeded to look it up. Now I don't know if this is conspiracy or just bad luck, but the one pass they did not have in the list (even though they had everyone I'd ever bought in my history of passes) was not there. I could not prove to them without the ticket in hand that I had it, even though I purchased it at Pop Century and that my bank had a record of it. So basically I wound up getting the seasonal pass anyway and was out $109.00 that I could have used towards it. Unfortunately, running back up there before June 6th to show them the play 4 pass exists is not worth it, and may not even do anything since they already charged the new pass. That happened on day 2, so it kinda set the stage.
I managed to visit 3 of the 4 parks during Extra Magic Nights which I have to admit was pretty cool. I'm a night person and I don't get up until noon (much to the chagrin of the housekeeping staff at PC). So I got to all the parks pretty late and still had lots of time to enjoy them.
Also got to do some things I've never done before, like really check out the gardens of Japan at EPCOT and Mickey's Jungle Jamboree Parade in AK. Had a great time exploring the many topiaries of the Flower and Garden festival. While at EPCOT, also took a sidetrip out the International Gateway and checked out Boardwalk. It was too early for Jellyrolls though, but there is some pretty fun shops there. Again, got some great pictures. Also at EPCOT, watched a few people fall for the Beverly drink at Ice Station Cool. Thought one girl was going to puke all over the floor. I had a lot of sympathy for the CM though that was in the snow room on the way in in a rain coat shoveling snow. Hope she was at least from up north.
Also checked out some attractions I hadn't went on for awhile, like It's Tough To Be a Bug that had no wait at all. Was hilarious to see the people jumping and someone left during the bug attack. As I was exiting, I noticed one lady who'd actually jumped up in the seat to avoid the 4D effects. I was kinda amazed that Dinosaur was closed during the extra magic nights, but apparently is closed right now for rehab altogether since the building's entrance was barricaded. Got to see Festival of the Lion King once again, which is a show I love. I had a rough day in the heat and some other things, and Timon apparently knew I needed some cheering up, so during the show he came over and put his arm around me and pretended like he was hiding. Cheered me right up, as that show always does. Also being there in the evening gave a whole new perspective to AK and I enjoyed taking some dusk pictures. I was hoping the Tree of Life would be lit up by nightfall, but couldn't stay long enough to find out. One of my greatest memories of the tree was seeing it that early morning (6:00am) that AK opened for the first time and how beautifully lit it was. Also would have liked to gotten on the safari in the evening, but couldn't get back there as body was giving out.
In MK, there was a lot of construction barricades up. Small World's is actually inside the facade, which leaves the "lobby" for a stroller park. 20,000 Leagues is boarded up as well. The Toontown Train Station was closed, as well as the Enchanted Grove soft-serve stand. Sunrise Tree Terrace in Adventureland, home of the Orange Slush was open, but partially boarded up as well. Got another chance to see Wishes which even though my view wasn't as good this time, still brought tears to my eyes. The narration really hits home for some reason. Since Enchanted Grove was closed where I got my favorite Strawberry Swirl, I found Miss Pott's Cupboard and got a Strawberry Shortcake Sundae which was about the same price. it was great, but a bit too much to eat in a sitting. My friend Jim the piano player at Casey's wasn't working that day. Didn't get a chance to ask if he still was there.
Also relaxed some at Blizzard Beach and enjoyed cruising the sidewalk at DTD, and getting a pina colada smoothie, which I really like. Also picked up some souvenirs (the latest souvenir photo book) and was looking for a small stitch plush or keychain to keep Figment company on my desk, but couldn't seem to find any but the large ones. Want to hear something funny? Blizzard Beach actually has photographers in the water to take your picture in Cross Country Creek where Ice Gator's house has the chimney that sneezes on you and right before the Ice Cave. I've seen everything now.
Pleasure Island has already started part of their test to open the island to everyone and charge just to get into the clubs. There were no turnstiles that I saw up until at least 9pm.
All in all the CM's were very nice. And I had to crack up when one guy heard me say that I just came from Asia outside of AK, and he thought I meant Asia (as in the country). I also heard a lady refer to AK as Animal Planet, which gave me a little giggle.
Well not a very relaxing trip with all the chaos that happened, some of which I won't bore you with, but it was okay. I have found that some of the Disney magic seems to be lost on me as of late, and I found myself wondering if I should have vacationed in the Bahamas. Disney is fun, but it's hard to relax when there is so many things begging for your attention.
