Nory Report III: In the Third Person! After 3 Years, the Final Update! NEW 2/6

[GreatBiscuit]

After a significant DIS Boards hiatus, GB was thrilled to discover that a TR he had been following was, to his great surprise, still in production. Given the generally unpredictable nature of his memory, GB was inclined to restart his reading of said narrative at the beginning. (Which according to his prior posts within this thread, marks the third time he’s had to do so.) Fortunately, Nory’s writing skills were of a superior quality and the read, as always, was a pleasurable one. Having thoroughly enjoyed the tale of a trip which is now three years gone by, he has but to congratulate the author on the birth of her son, the progress on her novel and the dedication to the completion of this tale. And of course to ask the question…what details might we one day gleam of the 9 trips in between?

 

[norybell]

After a significant DIS Boards hiatus, GB was thrilled to discover that a TR he had been following was, to his great surprise, still in production. Given the generally unpredictable nature of his memory, GB was inclined to restart his reading of said narrative at the beginning. (Which according to his prior posts within this thread, marks the third time he’s had to do so.) Fortunately, Nory’s writing skills were of a superior quality and the read, as always, was a pleasurable one. Having thoroughly enjoyed the tale of a trip which is now three years gone by, he has but to congratulate the author on the birth of her son, the progress on her novel and the dedication to the completion of this tale. And of course to ask the question…what details might we one day gleam of the 9 trips in between?

Holy mackerel, it's GreatBiscuit! It's so nice to see you, GB! How are you?

Thank you so much for the congratulations and the compliments. And I promise that you won't have to start at the beginning again! (3 times! That might be more than I've read the thing!)

While pulling out a few random photos from the 9 trips in between for a really quick PTR, I did think it might be fun to do a "The 9 Trips in Between" TR. Where instead of going into great detail about any of them, I just post the out-of-the-ordinary stuff...it would be a short and sweet way to do a TR, which means I could probably get it done in maybe even less than a year!

I don't think you will regret it! One of my friends from church just said she is adding on there because she and her DH love it so much.

I have to admit that I am pretty excited about it too. I have always wanted to stay at the Poly and its exciting to know I may finally get that chance. Once you have a certain number of DVC points that you really can't justify a resort stay, so this is very exciting news to me!

My biggest hesitations when it comes to DVC are: (1) the fact that I like being able to stay at all the different resorts -- I've stayed at all the Deluxes and Moderates!; and (2) the fact that I usually plan trips pretty last minute, so I think I'd have a hard time booking DVC at any of the places I'd most like to stay.

On the other hand, now that Simba's in the picture, villas are much more appealing (and we do plan on having another baby eventually, which would make them even more so). My sister and I plan to start an every-October WDW tradition for both of our families, and any of our other sisters and parents, if they want to join us, meaning planning much earlier might be more realistic and necessary.

Of course, I'd have to talk DH into it! And buying a house is in the air...we should maybe take care of that, first. Maybe.

 

[norybell]

Relieved to be finished with at least one piece of her “official” MK research, Nory left the park, turned left, and strolled onto the walking path to the Contemporary.

She had stayed at the resort last October on her first solo trip, and while she’d liked it, she was loving the Poly much more. But did the Contemporary’s walking path perhaps make it the Poly’s equal? She couldn’t quite decide.

She arrived early for her dinner reservation, so she poked around in the shops on the concourse level of the resort for a while. Still no Halloween T-shirts caught her eye; she might have to live without one, this year.

Her T-shirt dreams thwarted, Nory traveled back down the long escalator to the Contemporary’s first floor, so she could check in at The Wave.

When she was making her meal reservations, nothing on The Wave’s menu had actually caught her fancy. But she wanted to be somewhere convenient to the Magic Kingdom, and it had seemed to be her best option. The restaurant itself was deserted, and they seated her right away. Nory wasn’t crazy about the décor—it looked a little bland, and a little dated, to her—but she appreciated the quiet. Her waitress tempted her with a glass of wine, but Nory drew upon all of her available willpower and declined; she didn’t want to tire herself out, after all. Instead she ordered two appetizers, the soup and the crabcakes.

Overall, Nory enjoyed her meal. It felt light and healthy but still satisfying, and the service was prompt. She was back in the Kingdom before six. Time for Halloween Number Two to begin.

***

 

[KatMark]

Nice update, Nory.

I love those bricks; we actually have one, but I can't find my paperwork and don't remember where it is.

We have never eaten at the Wave because, like you, nothing on the menu grabs me. I can't even see breakfast grabbing me.

How were the crabcakes? And what kind of soup was that?

 

[norybell]

I love those bricks; we actually have one, but I can't find my paperwork and don't remember where it is.

Oh no! You should set everyone who knows you on the DIS to looking...someone's bound to find it eventually, right?

We have never eaten at the Wave because, like you, nothing on the menu grabs me. I can't even see breakfast grabbing me.

I did have the breakfast buffet there once on another trip, and I liked it a lot. Much more than the dinner.

How were the crabcakes? And what kind of soup was that?

Will it surprise you that, after 3 years, I can't remember what kind of soup it was? I do remember that the crabcake was surprisingly good. But I don't usually like crabcakes at all, so I'm not sure if that's a sign of a good one or a bad one!

 

[MEK]

My biggest hesitations when it comes to DVC are: (1) the fact that I like being able to stay at all the different resorts -- I've stayed at all the Deluxes and Moderates!; and (2) the fact that I usually plan trips pretty last minute, so I think I'd have a hard time booking DVC at any of the places I'd most like to stay.

On the other hand, now that Simba's in the picture, villas are much more appealing (and we do plan on having another baby eventually, which would make them even more so). My sister and I plan to start an every-October WDW tradition for both of our families, and any of our other sisters and parents, if they want to join us, meaning planning much earlier might be more realistic and necessary.

Of course, I'd have to talk DH into it! And buying a house is in the air...we should maybe take care of that, first. Maybe.

I like the Maybe!

DVC is a little difficult for last minute trips. You end up at SSR, which is a really pretty resort but its hard to compare it with some of the others. So I get that.

On the other hand, once you have a set trip schedule it mind it works really well. I have been fortunate enough to have all my waitlists come through. Even though I like the looks of some of the resort rooms better than the DVC rooms, I have enjoyed every single stay. I'm making the rounds the second time now.

Loved your pictures in the last update. So, so pretty!

And dinner at the Wave looks so yummy. I agree that the decor is nothing to write home about, but I have dined there three times for dinner and its been really good every time. The breakfast buffet is also very good. I'll be heading back there in October.

 

[Poolrat]

I was one who thought she would never own DVC, but the resale prices coming down got me.

I do not regret it in the least and I will probably be on the phone bright and early the day Poly DVC opens for sale and buy direct.

The one sad thing was the prospect of not ever staying at the Poly due to lack of DVC.

I enjoyed the Wave. Can't tell you what I had but on two occasions I had pretty good meals.

 

[norybell]

DVC is a little difficult for last minute trips. You end up at SSR, which is a really pretty resort but its hard to compare it with some of the others. So I get that.

On the other hand, once you have a set trip schedule it mind it works really well. I have been fortunate enough to have all my waitlists come through. Even though I like the looks of some of the resort rooms better than the DVC rooms, I have enjoyed every single stay. I'm making the rounds the second time now.

Yeah, I'm starting to think it would be nice to have points for an annual DVC stay in October. It's not like it would preclude us from being able to take last-minute trips other times of year, and just pay for them, like we do already!

Of course, I'd probably want to be able to do a Poly/BC split. That's what everyone wants, right? I'm sure that makes it plenty pricey!

I was one who thought she would never own DVC, but the resale prices coming down got me.

I do not regret it in the least and I will probably be on the phone bright and early the day Poly DVC opens for sale and buy direct.

The one sad thing was the prospect of not ever staying at the Poly due to lack of DVC.

I enjoyed the Wave. Can't tell you what I had but on two occasions I had pretty good meals.

I have to admit I've been doing some DVC research. Of course, as of right now I've only gotten my DH to WDW the one time, so I might need to do some more active persuading! And also lots of math.

I know my family would give me a very hard time, because my mom had a nightmare of a time dealing with a bunch of timeshares after my grandma passed away. She'd had a bit of a timeshare addiction (that we didn't know about), and it took my mom and aunts years to get it all sorted out. Now, I know that my experience with DVC, were I to buy in, would be much better than my mom's was with all these random places -- at the very least, it would be so much more worth it, because I would make a point of continuing to visit WDW, whereas my grandma bought timeshares and didn't always use them! -- but my parents don't know that, and so they'd think I was crazy! (Not that that's stopped me in the past...)

Whew, sorry, long story there!

 

[GreatBiscuit]

Holy mackerel, it's GreatBiscuit! It's so nice to see you, GB! How are you?

I'm mighty nifty, thanks for asking! Hope the Nory clan is well!

While pulling out a few random photos from the 9 trips in between for a really quick PTR, I did think it might be fun to do a "The 9 Trips in Between" TR. Where instead of going into great detail about any of them, I just post the out-of-the-ordinary stuff...it would be a short and sweet way to do a TR, which means I could probably get it done in maybe even less than a year!

I know my family would give me a very hard time, because my mom had a nightmare of a time dealing with a bunch of timeshares after my grandma passed away. She'd had a bit of a timeshare addiction (that we didn't know about), and it took my mom and aunts years to get it all sorted out. Now, I know that my experience with DVC, were I to buy in, would be much better than my mom's was with all these random places -- at the very least, it would be so much more worth it, because I would make a point of continuing to visit WDW, whereas my grandma bought timeshares and didn't always use them! -- but my parents don't know that, and so they'd think I was crazy! (Not that that's stopped me in the past...)

That had to be a mess to deal with. I'm pretty sure that having family think you are crazy is a membership requirement for the boards, so you are in good company.

 

[norybell]

I'm pretty sure that having family think you are crazy is a membership requirement for the boards, so you are in good company.

True!

 

[norybell]

Nory immediately struck out for Splash Mountain to use her fastpass from earlier.

As she climbed into the last row of one of the wet-seated logs, a disembarking man offered a clear plastic poncho to Nory’s boat. An older gentleman, sitting in front of her, gladly accepted. But after thinking for a moment, he turned back to Nory.

“Would you like this poncho?” he asked. “I wouldn’t mind getting a little wet, to be totally honest.”

“Are you sure?” Nory asked. “I’m telling you, any boat with me in it is guaranteed to get soaked.”

The man laughed. “No, I insist. It’s all yours.”

He handed it back to Nory, and she awkwardly pulled it over her head. She didn’t mind getting wet, typically, but after riding Splash one evening the year before, the temperature had taken a colder turn and she’d been chilly for most of the night. Since she was determined to stick it out as late as possible, she didn’t want to spend half of the party shivering. Soon enough, they were rounding “Soaking Bend,” and for once she didn’t cower. Bring on the water! she thought confidently.

The water never came.

“Go figure!” Nory laughed to the man in front of her. “I put on a poncho, and it keeps the water away altogether!”

She shrugged off the poncho—it was a bit sweaty in there—and spent the rest of the ride enjoying the briar patch antics and feeling sorry for the man, who kept having to remind one of the elementary-aged girls with him to keep her hands in the boat.

“Latitia, if you don’t keep your hands in this boat, you will lose a hand!” he finally hissed in frustration.

Latitia kept her hands in the boat, after that.

After their exhilarating plummet into the briar patch and the ecstatic zip-a-dee-do-dah finale, Nory ended up walking out next to the man.

“I gather you come here a lot?” she asked.

“Yep, I bring the girls here once a month, no matter what,” he said.

“Wow, once a month! That sounds wonderful.”

“Well, we live here in Florida, so it’s a lot easier for us than for some people. Plus, it’s a great way for me to spend some good time with my granddaughter.” He noticed the girls up ahead, who stood giggling; they seemed to be contemplating some sort of mischief. “Girls, you wait for me, now!” he hollered.

“Have a great night!” Nory said to him as he hustled away. Then she stopped, looking for the entrance to the train station. She knew it was somewhere in the vicinity, but she had never actually noticed it before.

A-ha! she thought, as she noticed the relatively unobtrusive staircase. And a few minutes later, she was boarding the Walter E. Disney. Ever since she read a biography of Disney and learned how integral trains had been to his entire concept of a theme park, she’s felt that it’s important to ride, at least once, on each trip.

Toontown, RIP

Nory climbed off the train at Main Street Station, and spent some time admiring the view in the dusky light.

She was surprised to hear a group of people, sitting on a bench, complaining about how they hadn’t noticed the train, and had missed it. How did they not notice the train? she wondered. It’s not like it’s quiet! They sounded, to her, like they just needed to be complaining about something, no matter how silly.

***

 

[GreatBiscuit]

The water never came.

Yep, I bring the girls here once a month, no matter what, he said.

hmmm...retirement plans.

Well, we live here in Florida, so its a lot easier for us than for some people. Plus, its a great way for me to spend some good time with my granddaughter. He noticed the girls up ahead, who stood giggling; they seemed to be contemplating some sort of mischief. Girls, you wait for me, now! he hollered.

Made me smile...don't know why. Getting sappy in my old age.

She was surprised to hear a group of people, sitting on a bench, complaining about how they hadnt noticed the train, and had missed it. How did they not notice the train? she wondered. Its not like its quiet! They sounded, to her, like they just needed to be complaining about something, no matter how silly.

Sound like the type who would go complain to the resort front desk that they waited 2 hours at the bus stop and never did get a bus for "Disney World".

 

[KatMark]

Nory, what a great update.

That is too funny that you didn't get wet after you donned the poncho. Mark hates that ride because he always gets soaked he says. This last time he got a few drops and we were in the last row.

We love taking the train ride; I'm with you, I miss Toontown.

What beautiful, vibrant pictures on what looks like a very crowded Main Street.

 

[dismagiclover]

I saw that picture of Toontown and thought, "Wow! How long ago was this trip? She really has taken a while to finish her report!" Then I went back and looked at the first post and realized the trip was 3 years ago. I think this may be a record for longest time to complete a trip report!

 

[norybell]

Made me smile...don't know why. Getting sappy in my old age.

It made me smile, too. It was just really really sweet.

Sound like the type who would go complain to the resort front desk that they waited 2 hours at the bus stop and never did get a bus for "Disney World".

Nory, what a great update.

That is too funny that you didn't get wet after you donned the poncho. Mark hates that ride because he always gets soaked he says. This last time he got a few drops and we were in the last row.

We love taking the train ride; I'm with you, I miss Toontown.

What beautiful, vibrant pictures on what looks like a very crowded Main Street.

Thanks! I think it's really a bummer that you can get so soaked on Splash Mountain (unless it's a really very hot day, in which case I say bring it on). It's such a great ride, and I really love it, but I skip it regularly, just because I don't want to get so wet!

I saw that picture of Toontown and thought, "Wow! How long ago was this trip? She really has taken a while to finish her report!" Then I went back and looked at the first post and realized the trip was 3 years ago. I think this may be a record for longest time to complete a trip report!

I should get an award, right?

 

[MEK]

Those balloons are so freaking cool! Do they only come out on party nights? I want one.

All your pictures are gorgeous. I love that time of night.

 

[norybell]

Those balloons are so freaking cool! Do they only come out on party nights? I want one.

I guess they must be a party-only thing...they are pretty cool!

All your pictures are gorgeous. I love that time of night.

Thanks! You gotta love dusk...allows all us amateur photographers to feel a bit more pro for a minute, right?

 

[norybell]

Nory strolled through the hub, and the castle, into Fantasyland.

It was a little after six—that beautiful hour before the Halloween party actually begins, when most of the non-party guests have already left for the day.

Nory had learned the hard way the night before: If she wanted to ride Peter Pan without a fastpass, this would probably be her best time. And sure enough, the standby wait was only ten minutes. She spent the brief wait stealing glances at an adorable boy in line behind her, dressed as a perfect little Peter Pan.

After the ride, she continued to amble. She felt in no hurry to get anywhere—she really didn’t have a plan of any kind—and the park was so beautiful in the deepening twilight.

She ended up at the Treehouse.

“I’ve never been in the Treehouse at night,” she said to the CM manning the nonexistent line at the entrance. “It was closed last year, when I was here for the Halloween party.”

“Oh, it’s really cool at night,” said the CM, a twentysomething man who seemed eager to chat. “You’ll pretty much be the only person up there. And if you don’t mind not hearing the music, it’s an awesome place to watch the fireworks, too.”

“Thanks for the tip!” Nory said, then followed the path toward the towering tree. She didn’t plan to watch Hallowishes from the treehouse this time. But it was good to know for a future trip.

She took her time climbing the endless stairs. The CM hadn’t been kidding: She was the only person there. She pretended to be the girl from her novel, alone in the park at night, knowing she had to defeat a terrible Evil.

Nory was starting to feel in character. And it helped.
***

 

[Poolrat]

The view from the Treehouse is awesome. Maybe next trip I will get up there again.

I like twilight at MK. Seems just a bit more magical as the sun sets.

 

[WDWaddictt]

I just found your TR. it took me a couple of days but I am all caught up now.

Your TR is very entertaining! Lol. Thanks for sharing!!

Congratulations on your little boy! He is super cute!!

I love MK in the fall! Pumpkins, mystery and excitement all in one!

Thanks for sharing all your tips, legs and arms up on Everest, fireworks from the treehouse. That would be fun!

Can't wait to read more...