MY ADVENTURES N WALT DISNEY WORLD, UNIVERSAL STUDIOS & OTHER ASSORTED SILLINESS TRIP REPRT; APRL '16

[knewton64]

so nice you are showing us it on your trip report.
many thanks!

i always eat at least once at biergarten each year.
off and on i made an adr at rose and crown.

both have good eats.

OMG!!
had soooooooo much fun enjoying their Grapefruit beer while nibbling on carmel laced popcorn and cookies one day while seeing the sights, sounds and smells of Epcot. ----- YYUUMM!!

......esp treats to nibble on from this place -




T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[knewton64]

I'M BRINING BACK THE 'TR MOOD MUSIC' (yes, even tho it's from my recent adventure n2 DISneyland) CUZ.........

(with a wee bit of some mood music to help set the tone)
pppssstttt!!! Just double right click w/yer computer mouse over the above video & it will play 4 u
and as an extra bonus......
how about some music from Downtown Disney(land) and David Wayne??

The reason why I am doing this is
.....I'm seeing that you can listen to it while reading this TR.
(its only good for that page that u r on)
and besides -
It's catchy!!





and -

Some Tiki Tiki Tiki room 'mood music' to keep ya n the DISney mood until next time -

**JUST DOUBLE RIGHT CLICK W/YER COMPTER MOUSE OVER THE ABOVE VIDEO & IT WILL PLAY 4 U**




T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[macraven]

now i will go to sleep with the Tiki Tiki Room song running thru my brain.....

 

[knewton64]

now i will go to sleep with the Tiki Tiki Room song running thru my brain.....

I'm getting hooked on either the theme song to 'Test Track' or 'Spaceship Earth' -





T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[knewton64]

DAY TWO
TUESDAY APRIL 12th

MUCH BETTER ABOUT THE BASEBALL CAP......
(I didnt feel as hot as it was a weeeee bit humid that day)



Ok.....who the "H" set the alarm for 4:30 FREAKIN AM!!

(pppsssttt!!!! a 'hint' of things to come on my "Day Three")......



Ok......SO WHO SET THE ALARM CLOCK FOR 4:30AM!!!!!
Oh - that would be me -


Nevermind -
So, I flipped on the SA channel....
that stands for the "Stacey J. Aswad' channel ......

Ya know, the one who says, "and this is the MUST DO while you are out at Magic Kingdom video that loops continously on that tv channel all day.......

.....and immediatly watching this for a few minutes got me motivated enough to
hop n2 the shower, get cleaned up and was out that door by 6am to get something to eat at Pop.

So, after my usual of waffles, waffles and more waffles.....
(among other things)



and a diet cola -

I just had to nibble on some additional munchies of muffins & trail mix in a lame attempt to wake up -



That kinda began to do the trick and soon I was on my way back to the land of Epcot while on a "Backstage Magic" tour (NO pics were allowed behind the scenes so I took VERY little pics /video this day.....fyi).


I was one of about 18 people in a group with Peter leading the group tour

(very outgoing personality and kept everyone's attention)
** Yes, all three CM's who oversaw this tour did an excellent job as there was never a dull moment**


After a while, we all climbed n our mode of transpo for the day



and IMHO, headed off to get my DISney Geek on.

**DOUBLE RIGHT CLICK W/YER COMPUTER MOUSE OVER THE ABOVE VIDEO & IT WILL PLAY 4 U**


Yes, this tour to me will satisfy any person's curioisity about what makes the inner workings of all things DISney tick as we saw many a department; from sewing, AA repair, costuming and repair, paint and even the beginnings of where the crash pads are for the AK animals at night.


Lunch neared b4 we all knew it as the bus pulled up to the WL and some much needed grub -

We were not disappointed w/all u could eat BBQ = YYUUM!!


and


Now the dessert went quick as well.....


Now THAT hit the spot!!


From the WTW from this tour:

1) the fences surrounding AK are hot wired.
2) That DISney 'tree" in AK?? 199.5 feet tall.
3) TOT is 9 stories tall.
4) the most cherished person of all at WDW is the lady who makes your ID badge that you wear daily while being a CM.
5) 20 years ago, WDW was experiencing literally 2 accidents a WEEK; now approx 1 a month.
6) Be sure and ask the CM's what a group of "X" animals are called when u r n the AK section of the tour. Ex - I didn't know a group of Rhinos are called 'a Crash.'


this is to give ya an idea of what I took away from this tour. Very insighfull and fun to be on.


But hey, my adventures are not all about being a DISney Geek!
So, around 5pn ish, I was now off to visit the Irish n me and Raglan Road.




UP NEXT:


My Irish eyes r a smilin' over some Guiness stew.......and visiting Goofys 4 the 1st time -




T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[macraven]

I took that same tour about five years ago and loved it
Have taken many of the other tours that are offered

When I do 11 days at wdw, I always book tours
The back stage magic runs 7.5 hours and is a great way for all day entertainment

 

[knewton64]

I took that same tour about five years ago and loved it
Have taken many of the other tours that are offered

When I do 11 days at wdw, I always book tours
The back stage magic runs 7.5 hours and is a great way for all day entertainment

Tho I wish we could have been allowed to explore more in the TOT -
I work in the Hotel industry and just love the place.

Overall, loved the tour.



T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[knewton64]

Pic taken from
My "ADVENTURES N IRELAND" - TRIP REPORT; JUNE 2011 (w/pics & video) -http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2203028&referrerid=0




ANYWHO -
6pm 'ish'rolled around as I slowly made my way on over to DISney Springs and Raglan Road.

(Yes, I was looking forward to some Guiness & 'Smiddicks')


So,
I quickly sauntered n2 Goofys 4 a bit b4 headn on over to Raglan Road.

Never been there and thought after my most recent adventure n2 the Ireland area (I am half Irish), I thought this would be a neat little place to check out.


Sat down and was met in a reasonable time by this .....
well......
Dude

who blurted out an attitude of
"Yo! What can I getcha?"

Hmmmm......must be the Waiter.
NO IRISH ACCENT!!

and the Guiness beer??
It didn't look like the one I have pictured above

I even asked the workers there at the restaurant about this and the reponse was "we get asked this a lot"........


WELL??


ANYWHO -
food was great, don't misunderstand.

(loved their Guiness stew)


Atmosphere?

MEH at best. If I had to do it all over again, I would have gone to Berrys & Creme or would have had diiner in the France section of World Showcase.

Butcha know, whats done is done. This is a vacation & besides, I have Goofys to check out!


So, with a twinkle in my eye, I bid Raglan Road a goodbye and soon met up with this Guy -


BUT WAIT!!


I had nibbled on toooooo much food & libations at Ragland Road!!



NEXT TIME -


and 'next time' will come in 48 more hours I promise.




SO, with a quick wink and a nod, I scrambled quickly back to my hideout at Pop Century to catch a quick cat.....


er "dog" nap and get ready for my big day of being the equivalent of a Human yo-yo for the day (via their VIP Tour) .........at Universal Studios.


Had dreams all 238 minutes long (until the wake up call woke me up)......
wondering if I met Universal Studios' height requirement for their attraction rides -


(got 'that song' in yer head now???? heheheheheheheheheheeeeeeee.......)






T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[schumigirl]

Now that dessert looked good!! And I don't really eat desserts.........

Nice updates........

 

[macraven]

How did the tour go for you?

 

[knewton64]

Now that dessert looked good!! And I don't really eat desserts.........

Nice updates........

Thanks!

Nothing more "funner" than flipping on my I-tunes on my laptop & jamming to some Disney tunes while I am blogging. I love to blog and really enjoy doing live updates while I am on vacation.

Now, about that dessert......

OH MY WORD!!
everyone and I mean everyone made a bee-line for that dessert cuz we all knew the ice cream would melt asap.....


So we made it 'melt' in our stomachs -




T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[knewton64]

How did the tour go for you?

Very well -


During the American Adventure segment, I didn't know that all the scenes are laid flat and then brought up one at a time.
and
that the Mark Twain AA - his head looks like IMO Former US president Dwight Eisenhower -

WHO WOULDA THUNK IT??


Also, was very intriguing to listen to how to concept of Epcot came to be and how the two sides (Walt Disney's version vs the Imagineers version) got melded together to form what we see today.


Was very challenging to always remember "Where are we in relation to ......" during the tour. Like the Roundhouse is located where in relation to what, the AK animal crash pads are located in relation to the entrance to AK, and so on.

I tell ya, the Disney Geek comes out in me during these tours!
Luv em as they are very enjoyable -



P.S.S........hey, I finally got around to putting some additional pics and video on the previous page so if ya want, flip on some Disney tunes on your laptop or whatever and check 'em out.





T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[knewton64]

AND NOW..............


iT'S TIME TO ENTER THE LAND OF UNIVERSAL STUDIOS!!

(yes, I did try their "Big Pink".....and IMHO, it R-O-C-K-E-D!!)





T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[knewton64]

"IDEAS FOR WHEN I BUY A NEW CAR IN AUG 2017"


DAY 3
APRIL 13TH


This time I was ready for that dreaded Wake up call as I threw myself n2 the bathtub for a much needed 30 minute 'ish" makeshift spa retreat to get myself ready to be turned n2 the equivalent of a Human yo-yo for the day at this place




With a quick bite to eat at Pop, I was off for the Shuttle Bus to Universal -
and the moment I hit the shuttle bus for Universal, BAM!!

I was out like a light!!'
Seriously -
(that's my secret, get n yer naps where ya can)


Got n a great 30 minute 'dog" nap (no cats here)
and b4 I knew it, the park emerged outta no where.

So, at around 8:45am /9am ish, I made my way into the Park -
Place was quiet -

Literally NO ONE around


had fun checking out the place -






and -


before making my way on over to -



But before I could arrive on over in the land of Margaritaville & Bubba Gumps, I spied the NBC area & ZAP!!


I was asked if I wanted to take a survey about an upcoming tv show
Hmmmmmmm...........



Details about the show starring Terry Bradshaw, Henry Winkler & such coming up




T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[knewton64]

Ok - so where where we??

Oh, yes ......that tv show wGeorge Foreman, Terry Bradshaw & Herny Winkler.

So the guy brings me inside this big ol room with a lot of tv monitors and was told to depress down on the green clicker in my right hand if I liked a certain segment of the program and to click on the red button in my left hand if I didnt like a certain segment and to hold the black button if I would have changed the channel.


IMO, the premise of the show is like being a "duck outta watter" as they show these guys in different settings in different cities overseas.


YES, the premise of the show sounded promising:
(I just Googled this & found this):

Henry Winkler, William Shatner, Terry Bradshaw, George Foreman and Jeff Dye will headline the adventure series Better Late Than Never, the network announced Tuesday.
The alternative comedy project will see the five men travel together to Asia in search of intimate, life-changing experiences. The one-hour series will begin production in August and travel to Tokyo, Kyoto, Seoul, Hong Kong, Bangkok and Chang Mai.
With no assistants and no limos, the quintet must deal with all the unexpected twists and turns that come with any trip while also communicating with the locals, immersing themselves in local traditions and enjoying exotic food. As they check off items on their bucket lists, the men will also rely on each other for support, encouragement and friendship.
Winkler will executive produce the project with Jason Ehrlich (The Bachelor), Tim Crescenti (I Survived a Japanese Game Show) and Craig Zadan and Neil Meron (The Bucket List).
Zadan and Meron, who have also collaborated with NBC on Peter Pan Live!, The Sound of Music Live! and Smash, have a first-look deal with the network.
Based on the Korean format Grandpa Over Flowers, Better Late Than Never hails from Universal Television in association with Storyline Entertainment.



But.........


after about seeing the first 15 minutes of the rough segments from the show, I got the premise.

After 20 minutes, I was ready to run outta the room out of boredom.
(IMO, don't waste yer time on this show as the premise gets old very quick)


But hey!

I got paid $20 for my time so it was well worth it!

Or
as I like to say,

I earned my "Bubba Gump" money for later on that evening at City Walk.



and after this, I had jjuusstt enuf time to have a major flirt with this person -

(The pics of her & I are really campy, its just they are a weeeeee bit racy considering this is a DISNEY website so they shall remain a treasure in my heart..... Ms Boop as I shall treasure those moments we had....



and I had just enough time left over 2
zip on back to Guest Relations and meet up with my other fellow Human Yo-yo's via Universal's VIP TOUR.



UP NEXT:

Rockin' it from the roller coasters to HP, my reactions and 'ranking'
of each.




T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[macraven]

Great pictures at the darkside!!

I love those surveys and always do them
It varies in what you are paid for your time
Last year I got $40 for a 35 minute review of a new future tv show
Since I stay in site about a couple of weeks each fall, I have the time and don't lose any ride time

Wasn't the lard lad donut tasty
I always get the twice on my trips there

Still here reading along

 

[knewton64]

Great pictures at the darkside!!

I love those surveys and always do them
It varies in what you are paid for your time
Last year I got $40 for a 35 minute review of a new future tv show
Since I stay in site about a couple of weeks each fall, I have the time and don't lose any ride time

Wasn't the lard lad donut tasty
I always get the twice on my trips there

Still here reading along

I just about did a back flip when I heard Ms Boop speak
as it was really funny making 1920's references in my conversation with her ("You are such a pill as I am sitting in the cat birds seat" and so on) -

and she responded IN KIND = 2 funny!




and the donut??
hmmmmmm!!!! Sprinkles!!



T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[knewton64]

To continue -


It was soon approaching 9:45am ish &
I boogied & a scampered up the side staircase by Guest Relations and into a room -


as we are all met by our Tour Group Leader

(sorry, didn't get his name but he was very good at leading Tours)
He was very infomative; gave us a back story on each ride and also told us what to expect on each ride and gave us the option on whether or not to go on it -



Our Tour group totalled about 8 people (one large family and myeslf) as we were supposed to be a group of 12 but the other 4 were no show......

Just means more of the park to ouselves!!


Now, what threw our day off a wee tab bit was the threat of rain so the Tour Leader was very wise in saying "Let's focus in on the outdoors stuff first."
(rain forecasted at 2:30pon)

Of couse, ya know what that means.......


Q: Got yer Bonine ready??
This was the very first attraction we rose as it quickly got my attention -
IMHO, #2 on Thrills.......

(Yes, I agree - DON'T have ANYTHING in your pockets when u ride this)


"Funnest" part was that it was just me and this 14 yr old ish kid
who road this roller coaster and all the other things like that this day - which didn't bother me one dang bit as it was such a blast getting schooled by him on how to use an Apple Watch (which he was wearing and bought it online for $25.......I DIDN'T DARE ask him where online as even his Mother chimed in sometimes she worries about him.


EDITOR"S NOTE - Yes, his watch has me curious as I just also recently FINALLY got outta the 13th "century" and got rid of my old school dvd player and got me recently a Blue Ray DVD / DVD payer........WOO-HOO!!!
Frist, I got me recenly a Apple Phone 6Sand now this!! -


ANWYHO -
The Bonine musta worked cuz that Roller Coaster was a total treat - was fun to look around the park while on that ride.


From there, we hit up the other coaster, "Snap Dragon" (or is it called Dragon Challenge??)

and WOWZERS!!!



It lives up to its name as it was SOOOOOOO FFRREEAAKKIINN COOOLLL to be on 'the back of a dragon' and you are seeing just off on your left HP world area


and then BAM!!


The Dragon snaps yer rear end sharply back to yer right!!


LUVED IT LUVED IT LUVED IT -----IMHO, #1 on Thrills


IMHO, that's the best Coaster I have even ridden in the longest of time!!


And yup, it was just me and that kid ridding this coaster out of the whole tour group -
No Worries I say. Nice kid, learned a lot from him and about that watch of his.


By now, I was wondering, "WTW?" about us hitting the coaster at first but WTW.......
what a way to start the day, ya know -

We then travered our way back to -

(and he was "concerned" about us getting 'rained on'!!)


GOT TOTALLY DRENCHED IN H2O on this one as I was in row one lovin' every minute of it....yes even wore a poncho and still got wet.....

Dudley DO-Right ride IMO #3 on 'thrills.


Afterwards, went on -
#4........

Now, the Kid hadn't gone on this one and asked me what it was like.....


To wit, I replied with a strange look in my face and said as I clenched my first in "anger"
and said, 'JOIN US OR DIE!!"


He look right AT me and said, "OK, I'M IN!!"


Rode row one and had a total blast!!

hit up this one very soon afterwards ......
#5......

(that approx 90 foot drop at the end DEF caught my attention!)

By now, the kid and I were in total sync w/each other as we then slowed down a bit and all headed off to -



There, I learned that the gut who draws these characters hides his first name in the drawings = pretty cool!!


and of course, ya can't ferget about this character:



We rode a few more atractions b4 I was time IMO, for "the main event."


Riding on the Hogwart's Express!!


(luved the special effects all throughout the ride)

Riding on that bugger just put me n the mood for some chocolate frogs!!


and I did indeed taste some of those after we all broke for lunch at the Leaky Cauldron.
Just right b4 kunch, the Kid and I rode that HP ride where they are having that Cridditch (spelling?) game and yup, that one gave me some sense of balance issues afterwards but quickly, I threw it off cuz I knew lunch was just around the corner & I planned on keeping mine down, if ya know what I mean....


As I was saying ealier, lunch there (at the Leaky Cauldron) was "MEH" at best so afterwards, I headed off to find Mr Conductor and I slyly I asked Him if was a wee bit mental
for standing n front of a train getting my picture taken w/him -

And he replied, "No Guv'ner!"

Ok....I'm in -


Cool guy, that Mr Conductor -



Ok.......by now I was in my own little world.....
enjoying the minute and having fun -




**** FYI - Tho I do add that I wound up taking some extra Asprin with me this day as those cobblestone streets of HP and I just don't get along.
I learned this the hard way when a few years ago, I wore tenny shoes while over in Edingburgh Scotland attending the Military Tattoo. I also put in some baby powder n my socks this day as well to help combat this issue.



ANYWHO -


By
now its time to move indoors as the threat of rain was beginning to creep upon us -

(very fun ride)




followed by -

(better than Simpsons.....)

Speaking of that, next was




Was having sooooo much fun, I wasnt even keeping track of time -
w/the last two things we rode on this VIP Tour was the Spiderman & Transformers rides (luved the special effects on the Transformers).


b4 we all knew it, 6pm had rolled up upon us and it was time to say our goodbye to each other.
We had ridden ALL of the attraction rides in BOTH parks.......
and
left nothing on the table....
Really enjoyed seeing Universal Studios via this tour -


WAIT!!
I did see one ladty getting off of one roller coaster (earlier in the day) with her hand cupped over her mouth as if she was trying NOT to lose her ...shall we say LUNCH.....



ME???? Had fun all day with NO ISSUE -


and -

-I love Dogs.....cancha tell?-




All this work has me up for a 'serious' case of the munchies and only one place to resolve said issue and that's at-

(was a "bucket list" item of mine left over from when I went to NYC a few yrs back)


I had a lemon-aid while I was browsing over the menu -




UP NEXT:
Chilling out over in City Walk
and -


coming home to an unexpected surprise from "Pop Century" Front Desk and or Management per the internet connectivity issue.





T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[macraven]

still here reading as you post.....

 

[knewton64]

still here reading as you post.....

Just wait until I drop into yer lap what happened on my DAY 4 during a Tour.....
(was TOTALLY unexpected and NOT part of the tour........AND wait until I tell what happened at the end of the tour....)




Overall, Universal Studios RROOCCKKEEDD my world -

**JUST DOUBLE RIGHT CLICK OVER THE ABOVE VIDEO W/YOUR MOUSE & IT WILL PLAY 4 U**




T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL