Mom, Dad isn't listening! WDW in July, another great trip! Updated final chapter

[wiigirl]

Great update!

 

[declansdad]

If there are no pictures of the DisMeet, it never really happened.

I hope we get to see the two DisDads side by side soon.

Always glad to see DIS Dad meets happening. Or in this case, read about them without visual evidence.

Looks like you guys did a great job getting your rides on. What do you think of the new Fantasyland?

Great pictures as always!

The proof (thanks to Adam). You will notice that we were obviously thinking alike that morning.


Dad meet by declansdadca, on Flickr

 

[declansdad]

Great update!

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it.

 

[PrincessInOz]

The proof (thanks to Adam). You will notice that we were obviously thinking alike that morning.


Dad meet by declansdadca, on Flickr

OMG!! It's B1 and B2.

What a cool picture! I love DisMeets.

 

[declansdad]

OMG!! It's B1 and B2.

What a cool picture! I love DisMeets.

You are on a roll today, aren't you.

 

[PrincessInOz]

You are on a roll today, aren't you.

I had my last day at work (until mid October) and am officially on holiday. See what happens when I feel free???

 

[declansdad]

I had my last day at work (until mid October) and am officially on holiday. See what happens when I feel free???

I guess it's a good thing for us you are going off the grid.

 

[PrincessInOz]

I guess it's a good thing for us you are going off the grid.

That's one of the reasons why I do stay off the grid.

 

[MeMom]

IMG_8497 by declansdadca, on Flickr

On my last night in WDW this summer, I had to rush back to a pin store in Frontierland ten minutes before it closed to get a particular pin that they didn't have in the Emporium. I was so focused on getting in and out, as Jill and the girls were waiting for me, that I forgot to go in and get newly-opened MSB pictures.

Coming up in the next chapter I make a decision that turned out to be a bad one.

Surely not!

 

[pooksma]

Surely not!

Oh yes, yes it was

 

[declansdad]

Chapter 6 – A mistake that I will never be allowed to forget

So after a relaxing for a couple of hours we decided to head to DHS for the evening. Before leaving Pop I decided that the weather was looking ok and I was tired of carrying a bag around so I just grabbed my camera and away we went.


On the short bus ride to DHS I noticed that some darker clouds were moving in but I thought we should be ok. Our first stop of the evening was grabbing FPs for ToT. Every trip I want to ride this later in the evening after it gets dark and every trip I am the only one that wants to ride at night. This trip both Pooksma and Declan agreed to go. So we grabbed at FP with a return time between 8 and 9.

I don’t’ think the sky looked to menacing, do you?


IMG_8655 by declansdadca, on Flickr

We decided to head towards Star Tours. As we strolled over, I kept hearing “Really? You didn’t bring any ponchos?”

Star Tours was a walk on for us. I don’t remember which version we had but I do recall that someone had a protein spill on the ramp heading back into the gift shop.


IMG_8661 by declansdadca, on Flickr


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Next up was Muppet Vision, again with no wait. The doors were opening just as we headed in.


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A fun show as always. When we exited the theatre it had started to rain a bit. Nothing major just a few drops but we decided to head into The Writer’s Shop for a bit to see if it would stop.

The band was playing


IMG_8689 by declansdadca, on Flickr

And Declan was looking for some new headgear.


IMG_8693 by declansdadca, on Flickr

We waited in the shop for 10 or 15 minutes and the rain was stopping, in fact it was starting to rain harder. I think I got a look but we were in now so time to make the best of it and head towards Pixar Place. Toy Story Mania had a 100 minute wait so we passed on that and decided to give the Captain Jack Experience a try. We hadn’t heard much good about this but it was raining steady now and the waiting area was covered. Well sort of covered. There were a few spots where the rain would come through openings as well as the part of the roof that was canvas had a few holes. We still got a bit wet but we were not getting soaked.

When we got into the room, we were squeazed towards the far right. If you do go into this attraction, stay in the center of the room. We were not able to see everything from where we were. The show reminded me of part of the Pirate Night show on the Disney Dream. It was nothing to get excited about but we can say we did it and we were out of the rain.


IMG_8701 by declansdadca, on Flickr

When we excited it was still raining but we were wet so time to move on. I mean we are at WDW, what’s a little water? We quickly made our way to the GMR and waited maybe 10 minutes in the room where they show the clips. Like it in there but I wish they would add some new clips to the mix.

The CMs on the ride were ok, not great but ok. We had the Gangster version of the ride.


IMG_8709 by declansdadca, on Flickr


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IMG_8721 by declansdadca, on Flickr

I do believe when we exited it was raining even harder but we were wet and didn’t need to hide like the other chickens....ere people who were afraid to get wet. I mean that’s why we didn’t bring the ponchos, we’re tough. So we headed for our last ride of the evening, The Tower of Terror. As we were headed down Sunset Blvd. they announced the cancelation of Fantasmic. Glad we weren’t planning on staying. Loved being on ToT in total darkness and I think we will have to do it again.


IMG_8724 by declansdadca, on Flickr


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IMG_8730 by declansdadca, on Flickr

As we made our way back to the bus stop it really started to rain and guess where the bus stop for Pop is....yup at the very end. The covers there at not very big and there was a family that decided they wanted to be under the cover so they just stopped at the edge forcing many people to stand in the rain. I mean come on, you have umbrellas and you are wearing ponchos, most of the people behind you had neither. But as long as you are taken care of, good for you.

And so ends another day at WDW. What will tomorrow bring us? Based on our pattern so far, I’m guessing we will head back to DHS in the morning. Do you think I will be reminded to bring some ponchos?

 

[Queenofallthings]

I bet you're not going to live that one down for a while! I remember when Geodoc forgot the camera charged one year....it's still mentioned!

Love riding TOT at night....it's the best!

 

[pooksma]

Happy Birthday to declansdad! I love how we are celebrating birthdays with trips

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

I don’t’ think the sky looked to menacing, do you?

Well, I've seen worse.

We decided to head towards Star Tours. As we strolled over, I kept hearing “Really? You didn’t bring any ponchos?”

Others could have packed them too, right?

We quickly made our way to the GMR and waited maybe 10 minutes in the room where they show the clips. Like it in there but I wish they would add some new clips to the mix.

I wouldn't mind adding a different ride to the mix.

I do believe when we exited it was raining even harder but we were wet and didn’t need to hide like the other chickens....ere people who were afraid to get wet. I mean that’s why we didn’t bring the ponchos, we’re tough.

Riiiiight.

As we made our way back to the bus stop it really started to rain and guess where the bus stop for Pop is....yup at the very end. The covers there at not very big and there was a family that decided they wanted to be under the cover so they just stopped at the edge forcing many people to stand in the rain. I mean come on, you have umbrellas and you are wearing ponchos, most of the people behind you had neither. But as long as you are taken care of, good for you.

Well, that's special. Stay classy, folks!

 

[RGirl]

Joining in! I am really enjoying your report so far and looking forward to reading along.

 

[declansdad]

Others could have packed them too, right?

I've been saying that for years; don't' seem to be getting anywhere.

 

[declansdad]

Joining in! I am really enjoying your report so far and looking forward to reading along.

Happy to have you join in; glad you are enjoying it so far.

I hope to add another chapter or two this weekend.

 

[declansdad]

Chapter 7 – Cross one off the bucket list

As I mentioned at the end of the last chapter, we had been developing a pattern of returning the park we finished with the previous day. So why mess with a good thing, back to DHS we go. (I did return to carrying a camera bag that did include space for rain ponchos and water, even though it was nice and sunny.)

It was an EMH morning at DHS and we made it just after the opening. We sent our new FP runner (Declan) on to RnR to grab some FP and we said we would meet him on the way to Toy Story Mania. He no sooner started to jog up the sidewalk when a CM decided to yell “No running”. I have never heard them do that before, maybe he was a lifeguard catching an extra shift.

TSM had a 40 minute wait but I am fairly certain it did move faster than that. I did have a glasses malfunction that needed to be fixed as I boarded, the pair I was given had only one lens. Wouldn’t have been very 3D with those!

We did have some time in the queue to grab some pictures. This one wasn’t very funny and not true at all (anymore)


IMG_8750 by declansdadca, on Flickr

Few more


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Next up were the RnR FPs so we headed that way. Since it wasn’t raining it was easier to get a picture of this:


IMG_8768 by declansdadca, on Flickr

I probably could have taken it last night but I was trying to keep the camera dry for some reason.

There was a bit of a line for RnR but with our FPs we walked right up to the door and into the studio. Always a fun ride but like many of the WDW coasters, I wish it were a bit longer and maybe another loop or two.

With no real plan we decided to simply walk around and ended up here:


IMG_8771 by declansdadca, on Flickr

I don’t remember which version we had this time but it was different than the last time and luckily none of us were the rebel spy. That could have been trouble as we don’t carry our passports in the parks.

The CMs were out in front of Indy when we finished and they said we had about 45 minutes before the show so we said “Sounds good, we’ll be back.” And headed for Tower of Terror. It is always fun to ride ToT with people who have never been on it before, they are usually pretty funny.

Made out way back over to Indy and they were seating people with the middle section pretty full. We went to the right to avoid a tour group on the left and with Declan leading the way, we went right to the front row. The tour group leaders entertained the group with the standard crowd wave and before you knew it the Casting Director was making her way out.

We have watched this show a few times now and I have tried to get selected as an extra once or twice. The first time the guy sitting next to was just a bit quicker to display his exuberance and the second time I managed to scare the lady sitting next to us but that was it. This time I wasn’t sure if I was going to even try but suddenly Declan is whispering to me “Jump up now, jump up now!” So up I went and I was the first person picked. SCORE!!! Made my way out to the stage, did the embarrassing scream and then we were off to the costume area to suit up and sign our waivers.

Being part of the show was really cool but you don’t get to see much of what is going on. They do keep you on the move and doing something as the show progresses. You are taken off stage about ¾ of the way through so you do get to see the finally which is always cool. Declan had the camera for the parts where I was on stage and this time he did get some pictures that we could keep. (He’s learning, DSLRs aren’t the easiest to use but he’s getting there.)

This one is very good.


IMG_8838 by declansdadca, on Flickr

Some of the extras


IMG_8841 by declansdadca, on Flickr

Me second from the right


IMG_8843 by declansdadca, on Flickr

Another pretty good shot by Declan.


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A tremendous performance by the best extras in the World.


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Waving to the crowd as they roar their approval at the great job we did.


IMG_8854 by declansdadca, on Flickr

Oh and these guys were in the show as well.


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IMG_8877 by declansdadca, on Flickr

It was a great time being an extra and now I can cross that off the Disney bucket list.

After all the fire and explosions it was time for something a little more sedate, Animation Studio and the drawing class. There was a class just starting as we arrived so we had to wait about 30 minutes for the class and once in the class it was decided that we would draw the main Mouse himself.

We decided that we had time for one more ride before heading back to the resort for a break so back to RnR we went. The wait wasn’t bad so I think we may have had FPs again. We also needed to do another of our tradition pictures:


IMG_8885 by declansdadca, on Flickr

We then took in some of the street performers on the way back to the main gate. They are always fun to watch and interact with.


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Another traditional picture


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And finally some of the Monsters University topiaries out in front of the Park.


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And that concludes another chapter. In our next installment – Illuminations and more rude guests.

 

[Queenofallthings]

Look at you....a star in the making! Great pics and I think we may adopt your "go back to the park we ended off with" looks like it's been successful for you guys!

Glad you had the bag with ponchos

 

[MEK]

Yay! for being an extra. That looks like a lot of fun. I was in the Flights of Wonder show once, but Indiana Jones looks more fun. Cross that off your bucket list.

I haven't watched IJ in years. Maybe I need to do it next trip.

Declan got some great pics!