Not so much a savings, more like reallocating where the money goes (Part 20 pg14) NEW

[javamom]

Yea, I accomplished something... I got caught up on Haley's trip. Good stuff!

Hey Grammy, you crack me up!

 

[HaleyB]

Not so much a savings...

Part 10, Epicot

After Spoodles we went back to our room and slept. Tomorrow we are going to Epcot. We are going to open the park. We need to get up early.

First I lay out everyone's outfits for tomorrow. Mama is not kidding around. We are going commando tomorrow. No, I don’t mean we ran out of clean underwear, I mean we are taking the park by storm. Maybe I should cal it going Viking???

I think I woke up before Mickey rang. Actually I seem to remember Stitch being on the wake up call.

That is sooooo wrong.

I love Stitch as much as the next girl, I just don’t love him so much early in the morning.

We dress, grab the back pack (with ponchos) which I thoughtfully packed the night before to speed up our room exit, and bolted for the bus. I think one other group was there. We made the bus stop by 6:30. We were at the gate to Epcot, near the very front of the line before it opened.

Way before it opened. It was early. It was really early. Possibly Mama was a little overzealous this morning.

So we wait and wait and wait and wait and wait and watch with some surprise as the area behind us fills with people. Tons of people. I am a little worried we will get trampled, there are so many people behind us.

Tons of people who all have the same plan as me. I can just tell. Everyone is heading for Soarin.

I decide I better go over the plan again with Steve and the kids. We are going to fast walk to Soarin', do the signature Tour Guide Mike move, and ride Soarin’. These extreme measures are necessary because Sophia loves Soarin' and wants to ride it repeatedly. It is new and rather popular.

Sophia is as excited as me. We are both in a bouncy kinda mood. We chat with a nice lady who is in front of us in line for awhile. I thought she could be a DISer, but I really couldn’t think of a good way to ask. I don’t mind sounding stupid on message boards, but in real life I am a little less OK with it. She was an AP holder, there solo, really short (and coming from this 5’2 and 3/4” girl that is saying something) and had very red hair. If that is you “hi”!

Among the many things I love about Disney is the fact that I come out of my shell a little and strike up conversations with strangers. I always find the people I talk to, at WDW and DL, to be kind and interesting and friendly. That is a good thing.

I am selective about who I talk to. You can not be yelling at a)your SO, b) your children, c) Anyone else's child, d) a CM- even if they are lame.

I also tend to jump into other peoples conversations sometimes at WDW. I can’t help it. If you wonder out loud where to find a good burger at the Magic Kingdom, I am going to butt in and tell you. I am not sure how other people feel about this. Sometimes I get a strange look. Mostly people are glad for the information, and sometimes they even ask more questions. You know any true DIS girl has got to love that. My favorite subject is Fast Pass education. I try to find one clueless person and clue them in every day. Share the wealth, you know.

So we see the red bus and hear the muffled tones of something that could be a count down.

If you have a good imagination and already know what they are saying it helps.

And the park is open! We do our fast, but not so fast you pass the CM leading us, walk to the Land. We do the signature TGM move I spoke of earlier (without divulging top secret information, of course) and make it to the sorting CM in under 10 minutes.

The sorting CM is the one who puts you in line. We are all smiles even though we have done the math and know we are going to be at the end of the third row. Which is a bummer. But we will ride it again so we smile anyway. I am happy, I am about to smell oranges, who wouldn’t be?

But the sorting CM has some pixie dust up her sleeve. She puts us into the next holding area instead, so we are riding in the front row! Sophia is beside herself with joy. Front row rocks. It is possible that CM just lost count, but I prefer to think it was because I have very cute, sweet children who smile and are polite to CM’s.

After our tour of California we make a break for Test Track. We are pretty sure we will have a wait for that. It is not possible that everyone came to Soarin’ and then got stuck in the other ‘Land’ attractions. Or is it?

I am expecting a wait based on the hoards of people that entered the park with us. Nope. No wait we walk straight to the pre show room. This is a good thing because the test dummies freaked Sophia out last year. She never made it onto the ride, which is a shame because she would have loved it. It does have a great waiting area for the chicken swap, though. Sophia loved it.

While watching the pre-show movie in the little room I look around and realize that the door on the other side must be the rest of the line. I rode TT once before, on our last trip to WDW and I sort of remembered that it let you out into a short queue. So I work my way over towards the door and of course brought my family with me.

Yep, I am shamelessly admitting that I took advantage of the fact that no one else paid any attention to where the exit door was. I didn’t push anyone out of my way, I just used my powers of observation to position myself correctly. I am a viking after all. So sue me.

Sophia loved Test Track. I knew she would, being a dare devil and all.

Next up, Mission Space...

 

[Mr. Silly]

That's a lot of words for "we rode Soarin', then Test Track."

 

[LaLa]

I am happy, I am about to smell oranges, who wouldn’t be?

Oh, I wanna smell oranges. I wanna smell them right now.

While watching the pre-show movie in the little room I look around and realize that the door on the other side must be the rest of the line. I rode TT once before, on our last trip to WDW and I sort of remembered that it let you out into a short queue. So I work my way over towards the door and of course brought my family with me.

Yep, I am shamelessly admitting that I took advantage of the fact that no one else paid any attention to where the exit door was. I didn’t push anyone out of my way, I just used my powers of observation to position myself correctly. I am a viking after all. So sue me.

The mark of a true DISer. I did the very same thing the last time we rode.

Yes I know there is no 'i' in Epcot...

Oh, but my DD would beg to differ.....

 

[horsegirl]

I am selective about who I talk to. You can not be yelling at a)your SO, b) your children, c) Anyone else's child, d) a CM- even if they are lame.

I am so with you here, Haley. I have to admit, we saw little of this on our lst trip, luckily!

I also tend to jump into other peoples conversations sometimes at WDW. I can’t help it. If you wonder out loud where to find a good burger at the Magic Kingdom, I am going to butt in and tell you. I am not sure how other people feel about this. Sometimes I get a strange look. Mostly people are glad for the information, and sometimes they even ask more questions. You know any true DIS girl has got to love that. My favorite subject is Fast Pass education. I try to find one clueless person and clue them in every day. Share the wealth, you know.

Oh I do this too! I just feel so badly for the people who do not know about this and stand for hours. I feel like someone trying to get the masses off a sinking ship, trying to get as many into the lifeboats as possible! I know thi smeans more people will be in fast pass line, but i figure helping people enjoy their vacations is a trump fast pass...

keep writing Haley, and glad you are doing this TR and not that silly Mr. Silly. But then he would be done by now!!!

VIKINGS RULE!

 

[sheridac]

LaLa, dang it. I wanted to be first! Mr. Silly doesn't count (no offense). Haley a true Viking is the most observant in all the land. But they don't go commando.

LY - mean it.

 

[Chapter 11]

There now, Haley, was that so hard? And don't you feel better for having gotten that off your chest? Very nice installment -- loved the comment about the exit door at TT. I do the same thing wherever I can (you can really get a nice jump in the library at Tower of Terror). Nothing wrong with that at all -- it's called being smart (and proactive). Okay, I'll give you about a week's grace, and then I'm going to start bugging you again. Fair warning.

 

[eternaldisneyfan]

Must subscribe!

Christamae

 

[HaleyB]

I guess maybe I should finish this. I think the end is the hard part.

 

[HaleyB]

There now, Haley, was that so hard? And don't you feel better for having gotten that off your chest? Very nice installment -- loved the comment about the exit door at TT. I do the same thing wherever I can (you can really get a nice jump in the library at Tower of Terror). Nothing wrong with that at all -- it's called being smart (and proactive). Okay, I'll give you about a week's grace, and then I'm going to start bugging you again. Fair warning.

I think my week is up.

 

[Mr. Silly]

So... Well, uh... You see, I notice that it's been a while... And the report is still incomplete... As I recall we went in last October. And we are going again this October...

I don't want to have to give you a D for incomplete work on the final report, but your grade is your responsibility.

 

[Grammyof2]

Are you having trouble?

Get to writing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[HaleyB]

Part something, 11 maybe or 12. Lets call it 12.

I can do that, it is my report. This way maybe some people will not think I am a slacker TR writing avoider type person.

So Sophia wanted to ride MS (Mission Space) enough times to get to do every ‘job’. She is so cute. Poor Max was freaked out by having a job. He was worried we might crash or something. Last year when we first rode this Sophia had trouble reaching the buttons. She freaked about it and it took me a minute to figure out why. I love Disney World. So if any of you kept track, last year Sophia was afraid to ride Test Track, but was fine with Mission Space, twice even.

Sophia is female, she is hard to understand. Even when it is another female trying to figure her out. She is shy and demure to a fault, in public. She is bossy, demanding, and downright aggresive at home. Sometimes. Mostly towards Max. So Test Track was too scary last year but MS, that was fun stuff. Go figure. No don't, it just does not add up. Anyway, though, this year she was good to goon both. With gusto even. Multiple times even.

I used to love rides that spun me. I had an iron gut. I thought it was funny to bait other less iron stomached people to go on to spinning rides. I also could do roller coasters all day long. Then it happened. A few years back. At Knott’s Berry Farms in California. We were running from coaster to coaster having a grand time. But I took it too far.

Misjudged your limit,
Pushed you too far,
Took you for granted,I thought that you needed me more...

Now I would do most anything,
To get you back by my side.
But I just keep on laughing, Hiding the tears in my eyes...

oh, sorry ‘bout that. Forgot where I was. That is a song, not a trippie. Horsey what the heck does trippie mean in this context? I know I picked that word up from you.

Anyhow. I misjudged my limit. Pushed it too far. And I threw-up, a little bit, in my mouth. In front of my Father in law. So no more all day coaster marathons for me. That iron gut was rusted right through, it seems.

Which brings me to Sophia’s request to ride M::S multiple times. All four of us were on board with her plan, we hadn’t eaten yet so I will blame my agreeing to it on low blood sugar. There were no lines. Mission Space was being shunned by many many guests. So we had almost no wait at all.

First ride was fun. Everyone pushed their buttons at the appropriate time. Go team! We overshot our landing by a smige (did I spell that right, you know what I mean, by a tiny bit) and there was a tense second or two, but in the end it was all good. Mission accomplished.

So we ran around and got back in line. We all sat in different seats and rode for a second time. Again we managed to accomplish our mission dispite over shooting on the landing yet again (maybe the sensors were off that day, I think they better look into that). It was all good. Until I got off...

I may not be a super genius, but I do learn from the past. Momma was not going to misjudge her limit this time. So she tempted the gang with food, and everyone seemed rather enthusiastic about that. Maybe I was not the only one feeling a little wussie.

We discovered the Fountain View Cafe years ago. We love it, which means that I love it, in case you are not following how these things work at my house (and every other household in the world, I think). Seating, not mush of a line, fruit tarts... what more could a girl want? Oh yeah, a nice view of the dancing fountain. It had that too.

So eating at the Fountain View has become one of our many Disney rituals. It was not on the Dining Plan, way back then, so we had to pay for our food. Shocking really. Except we still just hand over our room key. So really not that much different than using credits. For me, anyway. Mr. Silly pays the bills.


footnote-

I am shocked to learn Mr. Silly thinks the food at the Fountain View was just ok. I think he must have forgotten to take his Mickey vitamins today. Everything in WDW is wonderful and perfect. Silly.



More next month (J/K I think)

 

[sheridac]

Sophia is female, she is hard to understand. Even when it is another female trying to figure her out. She is shy and demure to a fault, in public. She is bossy, demanding, and downright aggresive at home. Sometimes. Mostly towards Max. So Test Track was too scary last year but MS, that was fun stuff. Go figure. No don't, it just does not add up.

Sophia is not hard to understand at all. She knows exactly what she wants. And how to get it.

We discovered the Fountain View Cafe years ago. We love it, which means that I love it, in case you are not following how these things work at my house (and every other household in the world, I think).

You got that right sis!

 

[Shelby5514]

I know, I know...what took me sooooooooo long to read this and respond? Well frankly, I don't know. I guess I've been caught up in the Maelstrom and you know the saying...too many threads, too little time...that's the story of my life! A day late and a dollar short...however I did just sell another item on ebay...so Yea Me! Maelstrom Meet here we come. I say 'we' in the collective sense...still haven't gotten DH on board, but I think I can find SOMEONE to tag along...I mean it's Disney World...and the food is FREE!...and you crazies will be there...WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT???? I ask.

Oh, yeah...your TR...while there are more than a few things I could...and probably SHOULD quote from it...I'm lazy...and have an appt. with a nice full cup o' Joe...(I don't drink coffee btw...I know...oh the horror! I actually LOVE me a Jamocha shake from Arby's, which is kinda coffee flavored, but not hot, I think more so I just don't like hot drinks.) anyhoo~ What I was working towards was, I am very much so enjoying your trip report. Keep up the good work! Maelstrom my friend.

 

[horsegirl]

Great trippie installment. I think the context might be altered by the addition of spices......

smidge

I too can coaster til the cows come home. My gut is still solid, I unlike some wimps who shalt not be named, can ride backwards, forwards and sideways...but I will admit to not yet tackling MS. But if you can do it and still eat lunch, well then....I give it a whirl next go.

The cure. This is the second time I have seen their lyrics in a post of yours...appropos.

The collective we in our home is also, I. and I have dispensed of even using the polite 'we' anymore. I is reality....let's all call it what it is.

Thanks Haley! Lots of fun...

 

[HaleyB]

Great trippie installment. I think the context might be altered by the addition of spices......

smidge

I too can coaster til the cows come home. My gut is still solid, I unlike some wimps who shalt not be named, can ride backwards, forwards and sideways...but I will admit to not yet tackling MS. But if you can do it and still eat lunch, well then....I give it a whirl next go.

The cure. This is the second time I have seen their lyrics in a post of yours...appropos.

The collective we in our home is also, I. and I have dispensed of even using the polite 'we' anymore. I is reality....let's all call it what it is.

Thanks Haley! Lots of fun...

Yes The Cure is the most ut. I admit to listening to them still. My best friend had dibs on Robert Smith, though. So I had a poster of Adam Ant over my bed. And David Bowie.

 

[Mr. Silly]

Sophia is female, she is hard to understand.

AMEN

And I threw-up, a little bit, in my mouth. In front of my Father in law.

A little bit... In the trash can... I was actually confused at the situation since my Dad was quite restrained, given the opportunity... Maybe it was because they still sold "Freedom Fries" and I pointed out that the French ironically turned out to be correct in the run up to the invasion that put him in an off mood.

We discovered the Fountain View Cafe years ago.

Discovered? It was just sitting right there out in the open...

I am shocked to learn Mr. Silly thinks the food at the Fountain View was just ok.

I was just down on the place a little since they are really slow, and are always are out of whatever the best thing, and they never have quite enough seating, and Max can't eat much there, and the food always tastes like it is a day old, as well as having to pay cash. Besides that it's really good.

 

[Chapter 11]

I can do that, it is my report. This way maybe some people will not think I am a slacker TR writing avoider type person.

Too late. Proceed.

Sophia is female, she is hard to understand.

Sister, you speak truth to power.

Anyway, though, this year she was good to goon both.

That long bar at the bottom of your keyboard? It's called a "Space Bar". Make it your friend.

Mission Space was being shunned by many many guests.

Guests, apparently, with a modicum of more sense than you.

We overshot our landing by a smige (did I spell that right)

Nope. They have these books, called "dictionaries". You should check them out.

dispite over shooting on the landing yet again

Okay, again, DICTIONARIES. Get it this time?

Seating, not mush of a line

This is getting tiresome. You do know where the "edit" button is, right?

More next month (J/K I think)

And yet, somehow, I don't think you are kidding.

Seriously Haley, love your TR. I just wish you'd write more often. How else can I harass you?

 

[Mr. Silly]

...blah blah blah...

...
4/19/06 - one ride one attraction
5/14/06 - two rides
6/04/06 - one ride and a snack

extrapolating.

07/09/06 - another ride in Epcot and sitting on a bench
08/18/06 - more sitting on the bench
11/03/06 - waiting in line for another ride in Epcot - brief reference to new trip to WDW
12/06/06 - finally get on that ride we discussed waiting for back there
03/04/07 - postmortem for that last ride
04/02/07 - We are in Canada in the World Showcase
05/21/07 - There's a lot to say about Canada
07/12/07 - Wow - it's hard to get the kids to leave Canada
09/21/07 - Left Canada after watching movie, walking to next country.
12/02/08 - In the U.K., we have gone to WDW yet again, now preparing those two other trip reports for the other vacations.
01/11/08 - Drank tea in the U.K., and had Fish and Chips. Somehow the biscuit disappears.
etc.