Orlando Smackdown: Dis vs. Uni. Ch.16 Japan Hates me, Just Hates me 7-13

[monymony3471]

We were told that some Brazillian billionaire built a resort for them to stay in not too far off property and that Disney won't let large groups back on property since what they did to Pop.

 

[Sandy Mouse]

We were told that some Brazillian billionaire built a resort for them to stay in not too far off property and that Disney won't let large groups back on property since what they did to Pop.

Uh, what did they do to or at Pop? That's where we stayed - first night (2/7) in the 80s on a room only ressie, moving to the 60s next night for our package. Tour groups were in the 80s and 90s mostly.

 

[MHSweb79]

We were at WDW in Feb. 2012 and this past Jan 22-29, and we saw tons of Brazilians/ S. Americans/ leaders with flags. At Fantasmic, the CM's entertaining the crowds asked how may in the audience were from Brazil, and at least half of the crowd raised their hands. We were shocked!

That said, other than getting stuck a few times behind a group leader with a stack of tickets at FP machines, we had absolutely no issues with these groups. It seemed the vast majority were families, and overall, were as well if not better behaved than the native English-speaking families we've run into over the years.

We saw a few American dance teams, young girls maybe 13-15 years old, and they were also nice to be around.

Maybe we were lucky, but I would not hesitate to go back during this time. Last year was chilly, but this year after the first couple of days the weather was spectacular. Plus the discounted resort rates allow us to get a few days at the Beach Club, which is our co-favorite along with French Quarter.

 

[Sandy Mouse]

It seemed the vast majority were families, and overall, were as well if not better behaved than the native English-speaking families we've run into over the years.

We saw a few American dance teams, young girls maybe 13-15 years old, and they were also nice to be around .

The South American tour groups we saw were all kids. If there were families, they did not stand out and blended in with the other families touring the parks. We saw the dance teams and cheerleaders and they were well behaved and well chaperoned.

 

[nebo]

Well my search came up with Cujo. Since I really couldn't get into the movie, I never did hear the line, much less remember it.

Mike, there's a good chance the line didn't make it inot the film,,, it's classic Stephen King dialogue.

And I'm not touching the tour group issue again,,nope nope nope,,,, but I am going to go back and work on the next chapter,,, maybe tomorrow night.

 

[Backstage_Gal]

We were told that some Brazillian billionaire built a resort for them to stay in not too far off property and that Disney won't let large groups back on property since what they did to Pop.

Who told you that? Absolutely not true. Pop had a very tiny portions of the groups last year, and there is certainly no new resort for them.

I want to know who told you, was it a bus driver?

 

[buzz1121]

I have been a very bad Neboite. But it appears that I am not the only one.....Where in the world is Pkondz? Hmm, that doesn't have nearly the same ring as "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?"

I have a fairly good excuse, little buzz has met another milestone, but this one was not a good one. She has had her first cold which subsequently developed into croup. It's been a tough week for her with lots of congestion and a cough like a barking seal.

Anyhoo, I really liked the chapter Nebo! I found myself laughing out loud in several parts. And I can contribute with a ute rhyme.

"It's true my ute was used as a shoot, and really the result was very cute."

Hey, when you've been MIA you have to make up for it in a big way!

Thanks to you and T-Man I believe we have decided to go to Universal in mid-December, prior to venturing over to Disney for the majority of the trip. It will mean taking DS out of school for a few extra days, but elder DD will be in a three day kindergarten so it's a now is a great time type thing. It seems like the perfect time to me.

We have a Margaritaville restaurant in Myrtle Beach. We typically go to the beach for a few days in the summer so we might just have to add it as a "must do" this summer. I've been wanting to try it so now you've given me a good reason.

I can't wait to take DH and the kids to Universal. I am looking forward to seeing Potterville!

 

[buzz1121]

Just as a catch up for being so far behind.....absolutely Monica, I would love to take you with us on our next trip. You might be just the ace I need to give DH a run for his money at TSMM or Buzz. You are scary good my friend.

Sadly it sounds like I should be relegated to the Nebo car, where Nebo and I can be in competition to see who can score the highest in the loser bracket. Is it really winning when you are competing against a fellow confirmed "loser"? Seriously, no matter what I do, just like Nebo, my score remains in the same general area.

 

[buzz1121]

Monica, Congratulations on the teaching position!

I am so happy for you!!

 

[Backstage_Gal]

Buzz, so sorry about little Buzette getting sick. That is so hard when babies get sick.

 

[monymony3471]

Uh, what did they do to or at Pop? That's where we stayed - first night (2/7) in the 80s on a room only ressie, moving to the 60s next night for our package. Tour groups were in the 80s and 90s mostly.

A large group stayed at pop right outside the hippy dippy pool area. If I remember right they took up almost the entire 2nd floor. Upon leaving the kids turned on the water in most of the rooms and left causing water damage to at least the first and second floors. When we stayed there last 2010 the building was being fixed. One of the bus drivers told us this.

 

[monymony3471]

Who told you that? Absolutely not true. Pop had a very tiny portions of the groups last year, and there is certainly no new resort for them.

I want to know who told you, was it a bus driver?

No a diser told us this who lives in FL.

Was there no incident? Cause several CM's told us this. I guess rumors can run amuck anywhere.

 

[Thumper_Man]

Mike, there's a good chance the line didn't make it inot the film,,, it's classic Stephen King dialogue.

And I would have to say, you are incorrect sir. Thanks to the wonderful world of YouTube, I was able to find it.

At about 5:51 into the clip, the line is there. Here's the clip: NOPE, NOTHING WRONG HERE

but I am going to go back and work on the next chapter,,, maybe tomorrow night.

You'll maybe work on the next chapter tomorrow night? Which would actually be tonight since you posted this yesterday.

Or you're going to work on the next chapter tonight (which was last night) so you can post tomorrow night which would be tonight.

 

[Thumper_Man]

I have been a very bad Neboite. But it appears that I am not the only one.....Where in the world is Pkondz? Hmm, that doesn't have nearly the same ring as "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?"

He's in Winnipeg, Canada. I think. Unless he's traveling again and didn't tell us. That one was easy. Next question.

Oh, that wasn't the answer you were looking for. Hmm. Maybe we should try calling him.

Ponzi, come out to play.
Ponzi, come out to Play_yay.
PONZI, come out to PLAY!

I have a fairly good excuse, little buzz has met another milestone, but this one was not a good one. She has had her first cold which subsequently developed into croup. It's been a tough week for her with lots of congestion and a cough like a barking seal.

Oh, poor buzzette. I hope she gets better soon.

Thanks to you and T-Man I believe we have decided to go to Universal in mid-December,

Aw Shucks. I get an honorable mention along with Nebo.



Are you doing both sides of Uni? Or just Islands of Adventure? Transformers should be open by then. IMO, its similar to Spidey but way better. Don't forget, if you don't want to ride FJ, you can always request to just take the walking tour.

We have a Margaritaville restaurant in Myrtle Beach. We typically go to the beach for a few days in the summer so we might just have to add it as a "must do" this summer. I've been wanting to try it so now you've given me a good reason.

I wish we had a Margaritaville here. Closest one to us is in Vegas. Where they sell these.


As far as we know, Vegas is the only one that sells them in this size. Orlando doesn't have them, but the margaritas there are just as good.

I can't wait to take DH and the kids to Universal. I am looking forward to seeing Potterville!

I hope you have fun. You'll have to let us know how the expansion is coming along. After the expansion is done, that's when we'll go back to Orlando.

 

[Thumper_Man]

I want to know who told you, was it a bus driver?

A large group stayed at pop right outside the hippy dippy pool area. If I remember right they took up almost the entire 2nd floor. Upon leaving the kids turned on the water in most of the rooms and left causing water damage to at least the first and second floors. When we stayed there last 2010 the building was being fixed. One of the bus drivers told us this.

No a diser told us this who lives in FL.

So it was a bus driver at first, but then it wasn't a bus driver? Turned out to be another Dis'er? Which is it?

 

[Sandy Mouse]

Great chapter, Nebo.... and the one before that, and the one before that, and the one before... An entire TR of wonderful chapters. No kidding!

Buzz, I am so sorry little buzzette has been sick. It's so tough on the mommy when they are so little.

Mony, congrats on the graduation, the great exit interview and especially the new job! You get 3 pats on the back and an atta girl. It's weird that we were in the same park more than half the day and didn't see each other - I know what you look like, even if you don't know what I look like.

 

[pkondz]

Just a little bit. I am no longer Steve, like you I am now Stephanie as well.

Geez. Sucker for punishment???

I know from a quick glance I took the other day that T-Man's already broken down (What? T-Man's had a breakdown?) the last chapter, so sorry if there's some repeats here.

Now that I had these teeth pulled, I also quit shaving,

No, no, no. You're supposed to shave on the outside of your mouth!


Wait... you have ingrown beard hair?

That's just... weird.

Not judging... but... weird.


Maybe judging a little.

what's the use, I'm still going to look like a moron anyway.

But isn't it nice to know that at least in your case, you can judge the book by the cover?

And she now wants to see what I look like with a goatee, you know, hair on my chinny chin chin, since I also barely have any hair on my shinny shin shin.

Well at least you get a choice...

Me: "I'm going to grow a beard!"
Ruby: "No you're not."
Me: "Okay, then I'm going to grow a goatee!"
Ruby: "No you're not."
Me: "Umm... a soul patch?"
Ruby: "No you're not."
Me: "Well fine. But I'm finally going to shave off this mustache."
Ruby: "No you're not."
Me: "Well, okay. How about I just leave everything alone then?"
Ruby: "Sure, if that's what you want."

Then I see they are casting for the Deliverance re-make, so I grabbed my accordian and went downtown, thinking I have to be a shoo-in for the banjo guy role.

I didn't get the gig.

They said I was over-qualified!

Oh, but before you enter into the CityWalk area,, you have to go past a checkpoint to make sure you aren't bringing in any alcohol, as if somebody would do that.

Wait. Don't they serve alcohol in CityWalk? You mean it's like a movie theater where "No outside food or drink" is allowed so they can charge their own exorbitant fees instead?

Right before we rounded the bend to meet "checkpoint Chairlie' Smidgy slugged down the rest of her Fuzzy Cup drink.

And fainted dead away...

And I wasn't in the mood to slug anything down just yet.

You just pushed back from your 'puter a little bit, right?

Smidgy glared at me,, "She's just going to take it away from you"

"We'll see".

Yeah, any notion of slamming back the contents of the fuzzy cup are now gone thanks to that challenge.

After going through Diane's pack,, the girl asks me what's in my coffee cup.

"You just answered your own question" I told her.

She laughed, nodded her head to go on, and Smidgy glared even harder.

But now I wonder... If you brought in a beer can but told the gestapo agent at checkpoint charlie that you had emptied the beer (in yourself, of course) and had refilled it with coke.... would they let that go?

There's no scorn like a woman's scorn.

Oh, I don't know. My uncle used to have a corn field and we'd go to his place and have a corn roast. You can't say that there's nothing like a woman's corn, 'cause his was really good too.

Or maybe he just had really good butter.

"Um um good,,, this tastes so good to me right now,, I hated to waste it in one big gulp"

Yeah, I love corn too. But not creamed corn... that's just vile.

And once again,,, The Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rocket. Or is it Rock it?

Rickets.

And we take a ride on the Revenge of the Billy Mumy again, I think it's a great special effects ride.( He was scarier in a couple of Twilight Zone episodes as a demonic little boy than IMHOTEP was in The Mummy,, IMHO.

I was only vaguely aware of the name. But knew right away which Twilight Zone episode you were talking about. I Googled him and saw he was in a lot of other stuff too. Including as an adult he played the father of the bad kid in the 2003 Twilight Zone reboot of his own original from 1961.

As for them making it new and improved? Well, they did, and yes, they did that too.

Only it's not as good!

At least to me,, but she agreed with me as well.

The new digital images are sharper, more detailed,,, the sound improved as well, the simulation tied in even tighter to what's happending on screen.

But the OMG factor isn't quite as it used to be.

That’s interesting. Sorta’ like when people say vinyl is better then CDs.

Continuing on, we passed by Dudley Do=Right's Ripsaw Falls, and apparently I took a short video,,, not sure why,,, maybe after I load it and watch it I'll know.

I LOL when I watched it… just from the interaction between you and Smidgy. You guys have too much fun when you’re on vacation, don’t you!

Forbidden Journey; 60 minutes.
or was it JoeBiden's Journey; 60 years?

Up here we don’t hear a lot about Joe Biden. But I was watching some golf the other day and they mentioned that his handicap was 20.

Obama’s handicap is of course, Joe Biden.

I did not want to try and make it through this queue again with a pack of feral Slytherin on my heels, pushing me along, nor did Smidgy relish

Relish! Did we cover relish? Do you like relish on your hot dogs?

Sorry. Non-sequitur.

He leaned over conspiratorilly, whispered, "stay close, follow me" and opened a door we didn't even know was there.

Sounds like a cliché from a bad spy flick.

This is Hogwarts version of Magic Kingdom's "Utilidors", for employees only. (or for Buzz who's ute was just used as a door.)

I can’t believe you used that.

A couple of bends in the road,,, and now he stops at an elevator and pushes some buttons, we are going back up now.

Pushes “some buttons”?? What kinda elevators they got there? Usually you push one. Up. Or down. When you get in you push one for the floor you want and that’s it.

Unless you’re that bratty kid that pushes all of them just as he’s stepping off.

That’s you, right?

Another long hallway and finally we end up in a room with about 6 other people, just off to the side of the loading area.
And I kept wondering how did these other idiots get here?

“Other” idiots? While I might agree with you if you were travelling alone, you had Smidgy with you.

So just to be clear. You’re calling Smidgy an idiot?

Did you happen to sleep on the couch the night you posted this? Or did she not notice?
Don’t worry, your secret’s safe with me!

I need a t-shirt the same color as a cardboard box, and on the front and back , "FRAGILE" in huge letters.

Must be Italian!

Then the most surprising thing happened to me on the ride:
after this morning I couldn't wait to ride it at night when I can see better, I just knew it would be an incredible ride,, and see better I did!

And I was kind of unimpressed now.
To use the phrase so many others use in descriptions:
Meh

I am so disappointed. I was really hoping you’d tell us all how it was the greatest thing since sliced slytherins. Ah, well.

Oh, it's still a good ride,,, I guess it just got built up too much in my mind first, like what used to happen when as a kid you'd see the Christmas presents under the tree, and you couldn't wait to get to open them,, and then you finally do, to reveal,,,,, socks and underwear!

For about 15 years. My annual Christmas gift from my MIL… socks.

One thing though,, the whole area looks really cool at night, well done there.
One thing I wanted to do but forgot about, was to look for a restroom to see if Moaning Myrtle was peaking into the urinals. I thought that would be a nice touch, to have her image show up in a mirror,,, or a soundtrack playing of her flirting with everybody.

That actually is a really good idea. Especially for those folks who haven’t seen the movies or read the books….

just strings of the little Italian style Christmas lights hanging over head.

And I bet they’re Fragile.

For once, no wait really at Margaritaville, got seated right smack dab in front of the stage with a white guy with a guitar singing to us.

How romantic

Singing.

Very nice.

The whole time.

Ummm…

Did I mention we were right in front of him?
I could have untied his shoes.

Shoulda offered him a taste from your meal.

Now, I know I haven't kept up with music much lately, but how can somebody sing for an hour,,, and I only really recognized one song? Shouldn't he have accidentally played something I knew by chance?

Heh. Coulda been worse. Could’ve been Dubstep.

Maybe I'm stupid

No comment here. None needed.

,, but for some reason I kind of expected to hear something by a guy named Jimmy Buffet.

You’d think… maybe only Jimmy’s allowed to play ‘em.

We split an order of the Volcano Nachos,,, and believe me,,, that's all youneed to do in here.
"I don't know, where I'm a gonna go when the volcano blows."

I had no idea that was a line from a Jimmy Buffet tune (thanks Google). Good one.

The Volcano nachos there are terrific,,, and it really is a mountain of nachos, HUGE! Think Vesuvius here.

And your stomach is Pompeii?

I'm pretty sure the recipe says to take everything that tastes good but is bad for you, pile it as high as you can and enjoy eating them while you wait for the big one to hit.

I want one! The appetizer, not the heart attack… although I guess you can’t have one without the other…

I finally gave up eating,,

Pretty severe diet.

and we had it wrapped up to go back with us,,, hve no place to put it,,, but we just could't leave what was left, when we left, to the left. (exit stage left)

Okay Snagglepuss.

It was still kind of early, so made a drink in our DISNEY refillable mugs and took a walk around the lobby/grounds/pool area. Tomorrow we are going to start out by the pool when we wake up

You know ahead of time that you’re going to have too many refillable drink mug drinks and wake up by the pool?

Man, that’s pre-planning.

Do you need an ADR? (Alcohol Debilitation Reservation)

Hey, oh yeah,, what happened to the special treatment part? I think I missed that when I sneezed!

No Bday buttons in Uni? Isn’t that a point for Disney then?

I got up first, the double room room is really convenient for this type of thing,,

Good news: You didn’t wake up by the pool
Bad news: You’re seeing (and typing) double.

Although I could have done without the jalapenos at 8 in the morning.

I was basically just killing time for a while right now, till it's time to head to the pool,,, at the moment it's still a bit chilly out,

Either you could use the jalapenos to ward off the chill… or you wanted chilli on them too.

I considered going and checking on the car, till I realized it's 1300 miles away near Chicago.

Bit of a walk. Don’t you hate how the parking lots are just getting farther and farther away from the resorts?

No, I'll pass this time, besides, I don't think she could have closed the door on the seatbelt again, running down the batttery.
Right?

Oh, no. It’s possible.

Or maybe the right word is ‘probable’?

then grabbed what I needed and went on down to the pool, hoping the Cackler would not be there.

You’ve gone from treading water to trepidation.

They were just setting up the water urns again,,,

Whoops! First time I read that, I thought it said water urinals.

Pretty liberal poolside perks.

I took a short video to share with the class.
Only problem, I have no idea what it is I'm looking at,

Me neither, although I think someone else did. I’ll be reading on in a sec…

Thanks for the chapter, dude! :

 

[pkondz]

Okay, catching up now. I was off the boards for a bit 'cause I caught a nasty cold from somewhere. Probably some cute little baby somewhere. Plus I was resting and I could hear this yelling... sounded like "ponzi something something play". But I could be wrong.

I know what that video is. It's the Mystic Fountain right by Sinbad's Voyage, before you get to Potter. It snores when inactive. That's how it draws you in. Then when you least expect it, it wakes up and squirts water at you.

I love that!

That sounds cool.. I like a fountain that draws you in and then gets you wet.

Great minds think alike.

Well, I managed to think like your great mind one time anyway.

Some people like Uni, then there are your WDW faithfuls. I'm not a WDW faithful. I can see the lynch mob coming for me now. I enjoy Uni and Sea World as well. One thing I've learned is not to compare. I commended Nebo earlier for trying to compare. While at the parks, if you try to compare one to the other, then you'll find you won't have a good time. Especially if you're a WDW faithful. You'll be looking for every little negative thing you can find. I've read a lot of threads on here where people say they didn't have a good time at Uni because Disney does this better than Uni, or you would never see Disney doing that. Gotta keep an open mind.

Nope. No lynch mob from here. I thought that was very well said, Mike. Love for one does not preclude love for another.

Ow!!

Geez Ruby! I was talking about Theme parks!!!!

For not beginning to be able to describe the route you took, that seems like a pretty detailed description to me.

Nice catch!

Well since you were right there with the idiots, does that mean you're an......?

Yup. Pretty much what I thought. I just added a little wrinkle.

Can you imagine how many men would be missing the urinals if they had her appearing in the mirrors? It's bad enough you can hear her in there. It would be fun if they would've rigged up one of the toilets to splash water when she goes diving in.

Yeah, but can you imagine how much fun it'd be if she appeared in the urinals?

Ready!
Aim!
Fire!!!

Nope, nothing wrong here. (ok,, sorry,,, just curious,,, those last four words,,, without googling,,, sound familiar? yes,,, I'm way out there this time.

Never saw Cujo... read the book, but don't remember the line from it.

Butbutbut,,, no,,, I do NOT cheat,,, the score will be what the score will be,,, give me liberty or give me an accurate score,,, my only regret is that I have but one score to give to my country,,, a fastpass saved is a fastpass earned,,, please somebody stop me now,,,The love of Universal is the root of all evils,,,

stop

Stop

STOP!!!

Yesterday in the grocery store I tried to pay for my $8.05 order with a twenty, plus four regular pennies and a pressed penny from MK. It went something like this:

ME: Would you take four pennies plus this one (holds up squashed copper oval)?

CASHIER: No.

ME: It's a good one. From Disney.

CASHIER: Blank look. No comment.

ME: It's Sleepy, see? Gotta admit, that's way better than Dopey, right?

CASHIER: Doesn't move a muscle.

ME: OK. *sigh* Let me dig around for another penny.

Sometimes it doesn't pay to hang out with the real world. Life is much better here on the DIS.

Interesting. Don't know if this would work everywhere, but I frequently (when I'm short a penny or two) will just give the clerk the option, "Will you spot me the penny or would you rather make change for a twenty (or whatever bill I've got)?"

I don't think I've been turned down yet.

I like the idea of Harry Potter, but I hated the FBJ ride. Walking through the cue was fun, but the actual ride made me so sick.

I needed a good 30 mins to recover. Rode the ride thinking they were over doing their warnings, nope, it is not good for those motion sick people. Or wusses like me. 30 more seconds and I was going to hurl!

uh, oh. Is it as bad or not as bad as Mission Space Orange?

We were told that some Brazillian billionaire built a resort for them to stay in not too far off property and that Disney won't let large groups back on property since what they did to Pop.

Sounds too much like an urban legend to me.

I have been a very bad Neboite. But it appears that I am not the only one.....Where in the world is Pkondz?

I was right there! Didn't you see me waving??

I have a fairly good excuse, little buzz has met another milestone, but this one was not a good one. She has had her first cold which subsequently developed into croup. It's been a tough week for her with lots of congestion and a cough like a barking seal.

Awww... nothing worse then when a baby gets sick. There's not a whole heck of a lot you can do about it. She feeling better yet?

plus now I know where I caught mine from.

"It's true my ute was used as a shoot, and really the result was very cute."

Hey, when you've been MIA you have to make up for it in a big way!

Okay, that was funny.

Sadly it sounds like I should be relegated to the Nebo car, where Nebo and I can be in competition to see who can score the highest in the loser bracket. Is it really winning when you are competing against a fellow confirmed "loser"? Seriously, no matter what I do, just like Nebo, my score remains in the same general area.

Well... I've only been on those rides a couple of times... so maybe I can join in on the lowest score competition with you and Neebs.

Oh, that wasn't the answer you were looking for. Hmm. Maybe we should try calling him.

Ponzi, come out to play.
Ponzi, come out to Play_yay.
PONZI, come out to PLAY!

Oh! That was you! I thought I heard something.

 

[pkondz]

I'm back. Be afraid... be very afraid.

 

[Thumper_Man]

I'm back. Be afraid... be very afraid.

Shoo fly, don't bother me.
Shoo fly, don't bother me.
Shoo fly, don't bother me.
For I belong to somebody.