Operation Big Thunder: the Dole Whip Conspiracy COMPLETE

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

warm glowing warming glow

The Simpsons

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Remember the Titans

Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back


"That can be aranged!"

Good Morning Vietnam

The Simpsons

+4

 

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

As much as we tried not to acknowledge it, dusk was upon us and our final day in the parks was slowly drawing to an end.

So we tried not to think very much. That wasn’t much of an issue for me.

Think?!?
What is this think thing of which you speak?

There’s a good one.
Nice composition.
(very little concrete)

When in doubt, ask the kids what they want to do.

True… but potentially dangerous as well.

The first answer we got was that they wanted to try more Sorcerers games.

I wouldn’t have thought that…
The games must be more fun then I first figured.

And Sarah and David wanted to ride Big Thunder Mountain again. Scotty had something to say about that

Imagine that…

, but I wasn’t paying attention to him.

Imagine that…

The third option was to leave the park altogether

What are you sayin’!

and somewhere below that was riding on It’s A Small World.

As long as y’all have our priorities in order…

We conferred briefly, and then it was decided: Julie was taking the kids to Fantasyland for Sorcerers games while I did a FastPass run for Big Thunder Mountain. And yes, I was getting 5 tickets.

Scotty might change his mind ya’ know…
“It could happen!”

We would meet up at Pinocchio Village Haus for dinner.

That’s not bad for counter service.

the kids had already made arrangements to enjoy the majesty of It’s A Small Word in Oblivious Family style: behind a sheet of glass, looking down on the poor saps filing into the boats while gorging on greasy food with no music audible whatsoever.

They chose wisely

Oh, I guess I need to list our dinner choices in case anyone thinks I might lie about those items in this chapter.

Us?!?!
Think that of you?!?!

Julie was feeling a bit light-headed and didn’t really want to experience Thunder Mountain in the dark that way, so she graciously agreed to take Scotty while Sarah and David went with me.

So she says. I think she took one for the team.
Momma’s will do that.

(Dad’s will too… but were also as likely to say “just try it one more time”)

We pocketed the extra FastPasses because Sarah wanted to put them in a scrapbook.

Maybe… You’ve done it before.
Or do you already have a couple of those in your stash form this trip?

We were off to BTMRR while Julie took Scotty to…

The Tomorrowland Speedway.

Bless her heart…

Talk about taking one for the team. Something tells me I owe her big time.

Ya’ think?

Purrrr-tyyyyy!

Unfortunately, she followed that up with a bunch of shots of Scotty doing his maniacal laugh and banging into the center rail as hard as he could at 7 mph. I think it’s safe to say he liked this better than Thunder Mountain. Julie, on the other hand…have I mentioned what a great wife she is?

You have.
Doesn’t hurt to do it again though.

I finally got my Dole Whip t-shirt, which is a prized possession of mine.

Score!

They started the Magic, Memories & You show while we were in the shop, and we ducked out just to see some of the projections on the castle. But the crowds had already gathered so we just saw bits and pieces of the show itself.

Maybe…

We wandered through the store, the kids pining after hundreds of overpriced toys that would break in less than two days if we’d bought them.

Not a lie…

Truth be told, I pined after many overpriced t-shirts and sweatshirts and possibly one or two of the toys.

Also not a lie…

We sighed, turned, and left it all behind. And started wondering when we’d be back.

Noooooooooo!

I’m wondering the same thing.
It’s now been two years since we set foot in a park.
The withdrawal symptoms are becoming intolerable.

we had one last bit of pixie dust come our way.

Purrrr-tyyyyy!

That almost makes up for the previous issues.
Not the rude people mind you…

Coming Up Next: We have two choices. We can get on our way and see some new destinations full of history come alive! Or we can stall our departure and stay on Disney property as much as humanly possible.

I suspect that Option-B will be figuring prominently in the next chapter

 

[shan23877]

Too late to take a stab at the quotes again!

That fireworks photo is amazing!

We've never done BTMRR at night, and I've always wanted to. Roller coasters are always much more fun in the dark.

 

[MissLiz]

Aww, end of the last day. Boo!!!

Great family picture with the castle! I keep telling myself we are going to get one of those some day, but we never do.

Tomorrowland Indy Speedway is my least favorite ride ever, but my girls love it. I've lucked out now, though, because my oldest is tall enough to drive by herself, so she gets one car and DH and my youngest get another car. I have become extremely skilled at the zoom and catch pictures from the stands.

I think the lie this chapter is that the kids wanted to do more Sorcerers games. I think you DID ask them what they wanted to do and Sarah and Dave yelled out Big Thunder Mountain while Scotty remained silent...he just screams strong and silent type.

 

[Poolrat]

Missed the quotes.

Always nice to wind your day down at MK.

I am taking a stab at the lie that IaSW was not even on the table as an option.


Kudos to Julie for taking one for the team and inhaling fumes and getting sidelash. Isn't that what you call it when you slam into the center rail over and over.

 

[Poolrat]

About 53 minutes early but



Have a Great day!!!

 

[MEK]

Well, since I am two days late for this update I am not even going to try for movie quotes. My question is - How did I miss this? Really? It's not like I haven't been on the DIS in 36 hours?????

That last shot of the fireworks is really nice. It's such a different view.

So, Julie is my hero for sitting out BTMMR because I LOVE that ride at night.

So sad it is your last night.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

About 53 minutes early but



Have a Great day!!!

Actually, it's tomorrow. But thanks for thinking of me!

 

[afwdwfan]

We wandered back in the direction of Fantasyland, pausing to take pictures in front of some random building in the middle of the park.

You'd think they'd find a better place to put it than right in the middle of the highest traffic area.

When in doubt, ask the kids what they want to do.

This should be good...

The third option was to leave the park altogether

Lie. No way that was an option and if it was, I hope Julie beat some sense into you.

I was reminded of a bunch of my friends who have suddenly started training for marathons and thought: they think this is fun?

I don't get that one either.

I didn’t even have to stiff-arm anybody.

On second thought, this might be the lie.

Julie was feeling a bit light-headed and didn’t really want to experience Thunder Mountain in the dark that way,

We pocketed the extra FastPasses because Sarah wanted to put them in a scrapbook.

2 more potential lies.

Julie, on the other hand…have I mentioned what a great wife she is?

Apparently not enough times...

The verdict? It’s a great ride at night. I’m not sure what it is exactly, other than the way Disney lights the ride just gives it a different feel.

It definitely is awesome at night. It is completely different than the day time version. Both are awesome in their own ways though.

We sighed, turned, and left it all behind. And started wondering when we’d be back.

I hate that feeling.

 

[glennbo123]

I had to drop Lauren off for something in Philadelphia on Monday, and I literally sat in a Starbucks almost non-stop from 8:30 to 3:10....catching up on e-mail, checking the DIS, writing my latest TR installment, looking for your chapter to be posted. I was going to complain that after all that, you posted your chapter exactly 11 minutes after I left, but in honor of your birthday tomorrow, I won't. Happy Birthday!!!

Another great chapter though.

I'm glad you got to try out BTMRR in the dark. I still haven't done that!

And these pictures are outstanding!:

 

[FreezinRafiki]

As much as we tried not to acknowledge it, dusk was upon us and our final day in the parks was slowly drawing to an end. Our three days there had been a blur, and it hurt to think that we’d have to say goodbye to it all in the morning. So we tried not to think very much. That wasn’t much of an issue for me.

Sort of like Billy Chapel's " Clear the mechanism", only you did it once in 1993 and never had to repeat it?

We wandered back in the direction of Fantasyland, pausing to take pictures in front of some random building in the middle of the park.

You know what would make that building better? A crane.

So I was off to the races once again. And after 3 days of this, my feet were killing me. I was reminded of a bunch of my friends who have suddenly started training for marathons and thought: they think this is fun?

No. No we don't.

I had the camera with me and took a few shots in the sunset’s warm glowing warming glow.

Excellent shots. I shall sit here and bask in them.

FastPasses in hand, I dodged crowds on the walk back to Fantasyland, using various people as my fullback as I darted through the openings. I didn’t even have to stiff-arm anybody.

Hey son, you ever think of trying out for the Eagles?

Oh, I guess I need to list our dinner choices in case anyone thinks I might lie about those items in this chapter. I had a nice meatball sub

Ooooo....it's like a hamgurger, only round!

, and Julie went with the cheese flatbread.

It's a pizza, Mark. It's a cheese pizza.

Unfortunately, she followed that up with a bunch of shots of Scotty doing his maniacal laugh and banging into the center rail as hard as he could at 7 mph. I think it’s safe to say he liked this better than Thunder Mountain.

They made Pirates of the Caribbean into a multi-billion dollar movie franchise, they're remaking the Haunted Mansion movie, there are rumor about a Big Thunder Mountain Rail Road TV show....when will they make a movie based on The Tomorrowland speedway?

We saw the ride lit up for the night and unanimously declared that it looked “awesome”. We’d always heard that it was a great ride at night, and finally got the chance to try it ourselves.

As we reached the Main St. station, we turned to say goodbye to the park. Wishes was starting, and the magic of the summer night was in full bloom. We sighed, turned, and left it all behind. And started wondering when we’d be back.

Man, you really need to start working on that mysterious benefactor. I'm sure he takes bribes.

Excellent work, Julie.

Coming Up Next: We have two choices. We can get on our way and see some new destinations full of history come alive! Or we can stall our departure and stay on Disney property as much as humanly possible.

Linger! Linger!

 

[afwdwfan]

They made Pirates of the Caribbean into a multi-billion dollar movie franchise, they're remaking the Haunted Mansion movie, there are rumor about a Big Thunder Mountain Rail Road TV show....when will they make a movie based on The Tomorrowland speedway?

Cars

 

[KatMark]

We wandered back in the direction of Fantasyland, pausing to take pictures in front of some random building in the middle of the park.

Great family picture!

AN AWESOME PICTURE....WELL DONE.

Great update; glad to see you got some things done and that Scotty didn't have to do Big Thunder Mountain again. I wonder whether or not you'll ever get him back on that ride?

Coming Up Next: We have two choices. We can get on our way and see some new destinations full of history come alive! Or we can stall our departure and stay on Disney property as much as humanly possible.

I hope you stalled your departure and stayed on Disney property as long as you could.

And I wish you and all of your family a very Happy Thanksgiving.

 

[Poolrat]

Actually, it's tomorrow. But thanks for thinking of me!

Okay so 24 hours and 53 minutes. Doh.

So a big birthday dinner with Turkey???


Happy Thanskgiving and birthday

 

[eandesmom]

So I was off to the races once again. And after 3 days of this, my feet were killing me. I was reminded of a bunch of my friends who have suddenly started training for marathons and thought: they think this is fun?

Do they? or is it just peer pressure

I had the camera with me and took a few shots in the sunset’s warm glowing warming glow.

Some very nice pictures!

I found Julie and the kids inside. Julie was squaring away the food orders and the kids had already made arrangements to enjoy the majesty of It’s A Small Word in Oblivious Family style: behind a sheet of glass, looking down on the poor saps filing into the boats while gorging on greasy food with no music audible whatsoever. You can ride it if you want, but my feeling is that we got the maximum enjoyment possible out of it this way.

So the kids didn't eat? Only you and Julie?

Ok honestly I had no idea that place looked down on It's a Small World.

The lie is you gave away the fastpasses to some lucky sap. Or that Julie was lightheaded. She definitely took one for the team with the speedway though!

BTMRR is the bomb in the dark. Something about the clickety clackyness and a castle lit up that to me is WAY better than space mountain. That and it doesn't hurt my neck like SM does. Whoever thought cars without a full headrest/neck rest was a good idea was delusional. I digress.

I'm a little sad you didn't stay for wishes. Long drive or not, I hope you stall in the morning. on the Dole Whip shirt.

Unless that's the lie.

 

[marvali]

Mark, Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

 

[Cinderella's Fella]

 

[vamassey1]

Really great chapter. BTM is a family favorite at night. There are some truly great pictures in this chapter. I love the family photo, landscape shots, night shot and the fireworks.

You really do owe your wife for riding the speedway. I try to avoid it as much as possible. It goes too slow.

So was your birthday on Thanksgiving this year! Guess what, so was mine. I really enjoyed spending my birthday with lots of extended family.

I'm going to say the lie is that you did buy something else for the kids. Last night and last chance to purchase.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Think?!?
What is this think thing of which you speak?

So you don't know, either?

There’s a good one.
Nice composition.
(very little concrete)

We'll give a hat tip to the Photopass lady.

True… but potentially dangerous as well.

Not if you raise 'em right (i.e. teach them to hate IASW)

I wouldn’t have thought that…
The games must be more fun then I first figured.

My kids certainly enjoyed them, but your mileage may vary.

What are you sayin’!

Relax, it wasn't really an option.

As long as y’all have our priorities in order…

Right. Just demonstrating the priority list.

Scotty might change his mind ya’ know…
“It could happen!”

Yeah, and monkeys could fly out of my butt.

That’s not bad for counter service.

More than anything, I like the location.

Us?!?!
Think that of you?!?!

I'm not sure I want to know what you really think of me.

So she says. I think she took one for the team.
Momma’s will do that.

(Dad’s will too… but were also as likely to say “just try it one more time”)

Or just grab them and hold them down in the car.

Maybe… You’ve done it before.
Or do you already have a couple of those in your stash form this trip?

We may have ended up with quite the collection.

Purrrr-tyyyyy!

You have.
Doesn’t hurt to do it again though.

In that case, Julie is awesome!

Not a lie…

Also not a lie…

Not gonna fool anyone on the gift shop desires, am I?

Noooooooooo!

I’m wondering the same thing.
It’s now been two years since we set foot in a park.
The withdrawal symptoms are becoming intolerable.

It's certainly not an easy affliction to deal with. The only known cure is to take another hit of Disney magic.

Purrrr-tyyyyy!

That almost makes up for the previous issues.
Not the rude people mind you…

If we'd known we were going to be in the park that late, we'd have staked out a better spot for the fireworks. But this was a nice treat anyway.

I suspect that Option-B will be figuring prominently in the next chapter

But there's so much more to see!