Our Seemingly Silly Semi-Illogical Four Day Whirlwind Trip

[DiznEeyore]

Wonderfully entertaining as always, Kay!! I'll never look at Maelstrom the same way again!

 

[MP2002]

Hi Kay,
I'm here!!!!! Sorry it took so long to check in with you. We have been back a little over 2 wks but I got sick shortly after we got home and I was down for a week or so & just getting back on my feet. I have been getting caught up with your report & still loving it.

So, you have become a minor celebrity at my house I have to tell you. The whole trip I would relate your stories as they applied to different rides or events as we experienced them so that half way through the trip you were being referred to by my family as the funny Dis lady says or Kay from the Dis says until it finally just got shortened to DisKay during the trip when I would retell one of your stories (like when we were hoofing it through the Nemo line & my brother was pulling my sis-in-law along behind him praying for an end to the walk). Tonight I was getting caught up with your recent entries & started laughing about the vikings and the "what's in your wallet" and my hubby asked if I was reading something from DisKay!!!

Also, you are my TR hero. Posting from the hotel lobby while you are on vacation is true dedication. Enjoying your report even more now since I was at the World recently because I can see it in my head even better. But it really was like you were on our trip with us, you just didn't know it!!!! Loved your pics too!

 

[PKWallaby]

Kay,
Thanks for another great installment and the pics...I also love to put a face to a story. Glad to hear you enjoyed your time away.

Not that you were referring to me, but I apoligize for not posting sooner...the past few weeks have gone something like this:
hockey weekend(playoffs), sick child #1,
hockey weekend(games), sick child #2,
hockey weekend(tournament), sick mom

Now that we made it through all of that, I can catch up on all my favorite TR's and focus on our trip to WDW...which is 13 days away!!

Thanks for keeping up my Disney spirits...this faithful reader can't wait for more!!!

 

[Kay7979]

Hi, Everybody!

Sometimes I do not know what gets into me. I stumbled onto this trip report and posted WAAAAYYYY back on page 1. Imagine my surprise to find that it's grown to 31 pages and if I'm not mistaken, we're now on the day after that first post. The mark of a fantasticly descriptive TR.

And I had to add...when dd was 8, she pointed out to me that on Spaceship Earth you go forward into the past and backward into the future--very strange indeed. (We hate the backward part, it makes my neck hurt!) Of course, she also pointed out that the burning of Rome smells like hot dogs which is now our standard Spaceship Earth joke. She's always been an observant child.

Now that I'm all caught up, I'm looking forward to reading more.

NMAmy. Ah, my prodigal reader has returned!. All is forgiven. You have come home and I will now kill the fatted calf and we will have a feast. Seriously, I’m glad you came back. I remember you were a Charter Member of my readership and I would feel badly if I finished the whole report and you never read the rest of it.

I’m amazed at how observant your daughter is to notice that Spaceship Earth goes forward into the past and backward into the future. I never gave it a passing thought until I was reading the ride description on a Disney website and they mentioned rotating backward to go into the future. I thought, gee, that’s odd, and come to think of it, we went forward into the past. I didn’t think about it while on the ride. Next time I ride, I’ll have to check for the burning hotdog odor. That’s funny!

Hi Kay - I have been busy and gotten a little behind reading your TR, but just wanted to let you know that I am still here reading since you seem to think some of your readers had disappeared LOL! *waving* still here!

northriver: Thanks. I do like to believe you’re all still out there reading, and haven’t lost interest and wandered off, so it’s reassuring when you post comments now and then. And just to prove that my fears of abandonment are not totally baseless, NMAmy above you just confessed to wandering off for the last couple months and finding me again twenty episodes later!

That was a terrific installment. Maelstrom turned into one of our worst experiences at WDW. My dd5 who loved Star Tours, Soarin and many other "big kid" rides was terrified by the trolls on this ride. She was sitting in the seat behind me with her uncle and actually tried to climb over the seats to get to me. Then we go into the movie and its loud and there seemed to be a lot of axes. Needless to say, I grabbed a trembling 5 yo and got out of there ASAP. Disney sure does know how to scare the bejeezus out of a kid.

Can't wait for the next chapter!

wahoostampingirl: Great name! Hello to my newest reader! I can see how a gigantic, ugly, three-headed troll might unnerve a five year old! Poor thing! And the movie has a lot of axes?! I don’t really remember axes, particularly, but just the mention of that makes me laugh. (sorry). I think Disney should start a ride rating system like we have for movies. In this case it might be: THIS RIDE IS RATED PG – PRETTY GRUESOME!

I'm still here too Kay! Just very busy but still reading when I can! I loved all your suggestions for how to put more Vikings and Pirates into the attractions! Bring on the next installment and welcome home!!

Liz: I’m glad you’re still here. Thanks for stopping to say Hi. I have the next episode just about ready to go. I hope you had a nice visit while your son was home from college.

Wonderfully entertaining as always, Kay!! I'll never look at Maelstrom the same way again!

DiznEeyore: Thanks for taking the time to say you’re still reading. It’s good to hear from you!

Hi Kay,
I'm here!!!!! Sorry it took so long to check in with you. We have been back a little over 2 wks but I got sick shortly after we got home and I was down for a week or so & just getting back on my feet. I have been getting caught up with your report & still loving it.

So, you have become a minor celebrity at my house I have to tell you. The whole trip I would relate your stories as they applied to different rides or events as we experienced them so that half way through the trip you were being referred to by my family as the funny Dis lady says or Kay from the Dis says until it finally just got shortened to DisKay during the trip when I would retell one of your stories (like when we were hoofing it through the Nemo line & my brother was pulling my sis-in-law along behind him praying for an end to the walk). Tonight I was getting caught up with your recent entries & started laughing about the vikings and the "what's in your wallet" and my hubby asked if I was reading something from DisKay!!!

Also, you are my TR hero. Posting from the hotel lobby while you are on vacation is true dedication. Enjoying your report even more now since I was at the World recently because I can see it in my head even better. But it really was like you were on our trip with us, you just didn't know it!!!! Loved your pics too!

MP2002: I’m so sorry to hear you have been sick. You must have overdone on vacation. That’s easy to do. From your comments, though, it sounds like you all had a great time. I think it’s neat I was “with you” on your trip, and have been immortalized with my “stories.” With any luck your family didn’t get sick of hearing about DisKay’s exploits! What you said about the Nemo line is particularly funny because I know my description of the walk from Orlando to Daytona Beach and back sounded like a silly exaggeration, but your comments are proof that it really does seem awfully far when you’re walking it! So, welcome back and I hope you feel 100% better very soon.

Kay,
Thanks for another great installment and the pics...I also love to put a face to a story. Glad to hear you enjoyed your time away.

Not that you were referring to me, but I apologize for not posting sooner...the past few weeks have gone something like this:
hockey weekend(playoffs), sick child #1,
hockey weekend(games), sick child #2,
hockey weekend(tournament), sick mom

Now that we made it through all of that, I can catch up on all my favorite TR's and focus on our trip to WDW...which is 13 days away!!

Thanks for keeping up my Disney spirits...this faithful reader can't wait for more!!!

PKWallaby: Sorry to hear you and most of the family have been sick. I’d better send you a dose of Pixie Dust. You need to be fully recovered so you can enjoy your trip. Have a GREAT time! I don’t mean to put all you readers on a guilt trip for not posting after every segment. I really enjoy hearing your comments periodically, though. When I don’t hear from people for quite a while I begin to wonder if they’re really still out there, or I think maybe my recent episodes aren’t as enjoyable as earlier ones. So thanks for humoring me and posting!

 

[NMAmy]

And just to prove that my fears of abandonment are not totally baseless, NMAmy above you just confessed to wandering off for the last couple months and finding me again twenty episodes later!

I'm thinking you might need to get me one of those toddler leashes that Utah Mama's admitted to using. Just so I don't wander off and get lost again.

I'm looking forward to that fatted calf! Don't think I've ever had that before--perhaps they serve it at Whispering Canyon? Along with pork jerky as a garnish.

 

[Kay7979]

I'm thinking you might need to get me one of those toddler leashes that Utah Mama's admitted to using. Just so I don't wander off and get lost again.

I'm looking forward to that fatted calf! Don't think I've ever had that before--perhaps they serve it at Whispering Canyon? Along with pork jerky as a garnish.

You're a riot! Both of those comments are very funny, and now I realize all the more what I have been missing by your lengthy absence! I think Whispering Canyon aka Widerness Downs, ought to put Fatted Calf on the menu. Great idea! But let's not spoil perfectly good beef with pork jerky garnish!

 

[Kay7979]

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE:




World Showcase at night is beautiful. Each of the countries is illuminated to highlight its wonderful architecture. Epcot has a very international atmosphere. As we walk through the streets smiling at people having dinner at outdoors tables, I can almost believe I’m in Europe. We pass fellow vacationers from many countries who are chatting in different languages. I smell foods that are pleasantly foreign. We walk by shops selling merchandise unlike anything from home.

I’m tired, and my pedometer says I have walked over 22,000 steps, but I’m enjoying myself. It seems like eons ago that we left All Star Music and arrived at Epcot. In less than one day we’ve had enough experiences to fill a week. We careened through space barely escaping with our lives, walked from Epcot to Daytona Beach and back again just to ride in a giant clamshell, were accosted by a three-headed troll, sampled over-priced foods from around the world, bought one Wilderness Lodge mug and survived a mind scan from the cashier, swam in the pool after bravely seizing the only remaining lounge chairs, and we ate suspicious substances alleged to be food at Wilderness Downs. It has been only twelve hours. Tell me the Time Dilation Effect isn’t real!

We shop our way across the world since we have time to kill before Illuminations begins. Though there is nothing I want to buy, it’s fun to look, just to see the vast array of specialty foods, woolens, china, steins, wood carvings, artwork, etc. Each store has its own personality and atmosphere, and the cast members like to chat about their home countries and the goods for which they are most renowned.

We take time to visit our own pavilion, The American Adventure, and watch the film. The building looks familiar but the film does not, perhaps because we last visited so many years ago. I am proud to watch the movie with people from all over the world who are visiting our great country.

Despite the fact that I’m having a good time, part of me seems to have remained behind at the Lodge. I’m not entirely tuned into the Epcot experience. It’s like when a radio drifts off the channel and you keep getting snatches of music from a different station. My mind keeps wandering back to the Lodge and thoughts about the lobby, grounds and our room keep breaking in. I’ve seen photos taken at night, but we have never been to the Lodge after dark. I think about how magical it will look with the outdoor lights accenting the building and grounds. Soft Western music plays in the background as we walk into the lobby. I just can’t stay focused on Epcot. I’m ready for Illuminations to start so we can see the show and go “home.” Hopefully, Mousekeeping will have come as requested and completed our “turn down service.” I love novelties, however simple they may be. If it weren’t for the DIS boards I wouldn’t have known that staying at a deluxe resort entitled us to this extra touch of luxury.

I’m not doing a good job as tour guide this evening. Not only can I not keep my mind on Epcot, I can’t remember the DIS recommended spots for viewing the show, and crowds have already gathered along the edge of the lake. The bridges and walkways are teeming with people. Fortunately the light show takes place overhead, so our view can’t be entirely blocked.

Before long we hear the boom of launching fireworks. Cascading streams of colorful lights burst across the sky. We watch from our current spot for a few minutes, then continue around the lake, stopping to watch from various points as we move toward Canada and Future World. The illuminated globe showing the outlines of the continents moves across the lake and claims our attention. I remember the last time we watched this show there were huge boxes stationed at various points around the lake, and at the end of show they opened and gigantic characters rose from the boxes. I look around but don’t see any of the giant boxes, and in a few moments the show is over. The fact that we walked throughout much of Illuminations, stopping here and there to watch, probably explains why it seems shorter than I remember. I’m still puzzled about the boxes with the characters. We walk through Future World on our way to the exit, and I recount my memories to Lowell, but he doesn’t remember seeing anything that fits my description. Someone please tell me I’m not crazy and that what I remember really existed!

Somehow we make it to the right bus stop ahead of most of our competition. Even so, there is a line waiting to board. Lowell gets on first to scope out available seats. As soon as I’m inside far enough to see the length of the bus, I realize that our seating luck has just run out: we’re about to audition for Cirque du Soleil. This is bad news because balance is not one of my strong points. Sadly, my name is Grace compared to Lowell.

In the early years of our marriage we participated in Civil War reenacting and also belonged to a Victorian Dance Society. I hate to say it, but Scarlet and Rhett would have run screaming from us in a ballroom. Once safely out of reach I can imagine Scarlett drawling, “Oh, Rhett! Who were those odious, clumsy people? It’s bad enough someone invited poor white trash to this ball, but they couldn’t even dance!”

Poor Lowell has little sense of rhythm. Therefore, in quite unladylike fashion, I led during waltzes, all the while praying for something simpler next like a reel, for which fewer dancing skills were required. To be fair, I had an advantage over Lowell. No one could see my feet under the bell of my voluminous skirt. As long as I didn’t step backward onto my hem and upend myself, I could afford to be a bit clumsy, and no one could tell. Another factor working against him was that men’s shoes of that era had smooth leather soles, a recipe for disaster on a highly polished ballroom floor. Lowell was probably holding me more to keep his feet from skating out from under him than to whirl me through the steps of the dance.

In view of our reputation for awkwardness, you can see why I dread standing on busses. With a sigh, I follow Lowell as far toward the back as possible to allow a few dozen more passengers to board. The driver tells us cheerfully that he’ll have us back to our resort in a jiffy. We brace ourselves for motion.

And that’s when the horrible, traumatic thing happens to me, from which I may never fully recover: A man in his mid-thirties offers me his seat.

All the blood drains from my face. My heart skips several beats, and my mouth goes dry. I manage to croak, “Me?”

I have never had a man offer me his seat, with the exception of when I was dressed in 1860s attire. Men instantly morph into suave courteous gentlemen the moment they encounter a woman in a hoop skirt, so that doesn’t count. I am too numb to look around at my fellow passengers, but I am nearly certain there are other women near by. Women who have not been offered this courtesy.

Therefore I must be the most decrepit.

The realization that for the first time in my life I have been offered a seat because I am perceived to be old nearly crushes the life from me. I feel the flesh rotting from my face, my eyes retreating into hollow sockets, my lips puckering over empty gums, my clothes bagging over my shrunken, misshapen frame. In a moment my skeletal hands can barely cling to the rail to support myself.

“You mean me?” I ask again. The words sound strange and hollow coming from my toothless mouth.

He stands and motions me forward with a smile, unaware that my world has just collapsed. He is blind to my atrophied body. I manage to totter forward and collapse into the newly vacant seat.

I long pitifully for the days of my youth:

Five minutes ago.

Back then I was still pretty, youthful, and carefree. Or so I thought. But I was wrong. I would moan with misery if only my vocal chords were not too withered to moan.

Lowell glances at me, but I can tell that he, too, is blind to my hideous transformation. Still, I know the truth, and I dread to face him when we return to the Lodge. It was bad enough before tonight. He’s five years younger than me. Now I am centuries older.

I am nearly comatose by the time the bus pulls into the Lodge. The doors open and the stampede for the exits begin. I struggle to my feet and shuffle toward the door, wishing for a cane or a walker. My jeans feel tighter. Probably my Depends are bunching up. Lowell gets off first and waits for me. I manage to descend the steps without pitching headfirst onto the pavement. Do I get an honorable mention from Cirque du Soleil for that?

It’s a beautiful evening. The moon glows overhead, Lowell takes my hand and we walk toward the Lodge enjoying in silence the pine-scented breeze. It feels good to be here in this wonderful place together. The moon and the warm night air work their magic and I feel life and vitality returning. What a ninny. Deep down, I don’t feel any different than I did before the bus ride. For that matter, I feel no different than when I was twenty-five or thirty. Very little about me has changed, but the years have passed, and I have accumulated a wonderful store of memories and experiences. If I’m old enough to be offered a seat on a bus, so be it, at least I’m young at heart.

We walk inside the Lodge and pause, as always, to enjoy its rustic magnificence.

“What do you want to do now?” Lowell asks, still unaware of my mental turmoil.

I put the bus ride trauma firmly behind me and look up at him. For a moment I have no idea what I’m in the mood for. Then I get a mental image that makes me burst out laughing, and I know what I feel like doing. “How about a stick pony race across the lobby?’

 

[Minnie_Moo]

The noive of that young whippersnapper!

There were some days last May when I would've "killed" for a seat instead of hanging on for dear life as the bus careened back to Pop late at night.

I prefer to refer to it as accepting my due now that I've reached that certain age!!!

 

[NAB]

I know that wasn't your picture

Another great installment......

 

[Maine-iac]

The realization that for the first time in my life I have been offered a seat because I am perceived to be old nearly crushes the life from me. I feel the flesh rotting from my face, my eyes retreating into hollow sockets, my lips puckering over empty gums, my clothes bagging over my shrunken, misshapen frame. In a moment my skeletal hands can barely cling to the rail to support myself.<<<<<<

It is so tramatic when you realize someone thinks you are old. At 42 I realize that more and more each day. I remember when I though 40 was old. What was I thinking?
​

 

[Maine-iac]

There were some days last May when I would've "killed" for a seat instead of hanging on for dear life as the bus careened back to Pop late at night.<<<

One night going back to Pop I held on so tight with both hands that they ached during the night. I felt like I was on TT going around the hairpin turns.

 

[Princess Tinkerbell]

That's the problem with you yankees. You woulnd't know chivalry if it came up and bit you on the axe. I bet he was a southern gentleman, they offer their seat to the prettiest girl on the bus.

I loved your description of Epcot at night. It took me back to July when I arrived for the first night for our stay at the world. We had dinner at Bistro de Paris and meandered around Epcot and let our minds wander to all the wonderful experiences we would get to share over the next week. Thank you for bringing that wonderful memory back to my mind so vividly.

You're always hilarious, but I think I like this sentimental Kay.

 

[celerystalker]

Aww Kay! You're not old! And You DEFINITELY do not look old. You were on a bus full of only men! I know it!

 

[iluvsushi]

Another very enjoyable episode, Kay! You had me smiling all the way through.

So, tell me...do they rent stick ponies in the lobby, or did you bring your own collapsible ones in the famous Tweed Bag?

- Iluvsushi

 

[SunKat]

Argh! Kay, it was the bunched up Depends that gave ya away!! No worries, I agree with the other poster, he probably gave his seat up to the most lovely lady on the bus. You should've challenenged him to a stick pony race.

Uh-oh, I don't think anyone has mentioned the large boxes with the characters popping out. It's just you. Cue Twilight Zone music.

Oh yes, turndown service. I used to love coming back to the Beach Club and seeing the bed turned down, the beach club chocolates and the little cards with sayings like "when you wish upon a star..."

Once again, Bravo!! You are such a talented and very funny writer.

 

[UtahMama]

Kayyyyy. You're not that old! I KNOW that feeling, though! It's a little like the first time you get called a "Ma'am" by a store clerk.

I get offered seats most often when I have a sleeping toddler plus 5 bags and a stroller. I'm milking my mama status as long as possible. I'm amazed at how WONDERFUL and chivalrous men are Even young guys who have no idea they just rocked your world forever!

You really are a magnificent writer! I'm loving every minute of your trip!!!!

 

[Liz]

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE:

I have never had a man offer me his seat, with the exception of when I was dressed in 1860s attire. Men instantly morph into suave courteous gentlemen the moment they encounter a woman in a hoop skirt, so that doesn’t count. I am too numb to look around at my fellow passengers, but I am nearly certain there are other women near by. Women who have not been offered this courtesy.

Therefore I must be the most decrepit.

The realization that for the first time in my life I have been offered a seat because I am perceived to be old nearly crushes the life from me. I feel the flesh rotting from my face, my eyes retreating into hollow sockets, my lips puckering over empty gums, my clothes bagging over my shrunken, misshapen frame. In a moment my skeletal hands can barely cling to the rail to support myself.

“You mean me?” I ask again. The words sound strange and hollow coming from my toothless mouth.

He stands and motions me forward with a smile, unaware that my world has just collapsed. He is blind to my atrophied body. I manage to totter forward and collapse into the newly vacant seat.

I long pitifully for the days of my youth:

Five minutes ago.

Back then I was still pretty, youthful, and carefree. Or so I thought. But I was wrong. I would moan with misery if only my vocal chords were not too withered to moan.

Lowell glances at me, but I can tell that he, too, is blind to my hideous transformation. Still, I know the truth, and I dread to face him when we return to the Lodge. It was bad enough before tonight. He’s five years younger than me. Now I am centuries older.

I am nearly comatose by the time the bus pulls into the Lodge. The doors open and the stampede for the exits begin. I struggle to my feet and shuffle toward the door, wishing for a cane or a walker. My jeans feel tighter. Probably my Depends are bunching up. Lowell gets off first and waits for me. I manage to descend the steps without pitching headfirst onto the pavement.

Oh my gosh! So funny I had to read it twice!! Kay you are awesome!!!

And your description of the Lodge makes me even more anxious to stay there! I didn't know there was a turn down service! How do you request that?

 

[daly7o9]

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE:
And that’s when the horrible, traumatic thing happens to me, from which I may never fully recover: A man in his mid-thirties offers me his seat.

I had this happen to me when I was a mere child of twenty-five! A nineteenish-looking guy called me ma'am and I was traumatized for the rest of the day. Although I kept rationalizing that the reason was that we live in the south and its just what we do, ya'all.

 

[NMAmy]

Woo hoo! You're very kind to post another episode so quickly. I'm sure it was just for me since I'm so loyal and all. Oh, and being called a riot is high praise coming from you, my new friend! You're giving me lots of good material so it's easy.

Tell me the Time Dilation Effect isn’t real!

I'm going to have to take your word for this. We have the opposite phenomenon when we go to WDW. An entire week passes in the wink of an eye. The two weeks until I get to leave, though? THAT definitely is showing shades of the Time Dilation Effect!

We take time to visit our own pavilion, The American Adventure, and watch the film.

Can you believe I have NEVER made it into the American Pavilion? It's on my to do list for this trip.

Hopefully, Mousekeeping will have come as requested and completed our “turn down service.” I love novelties, however simple they may be. If it weren’t for the DIS boards I wouldn’t have known that staying at a deluxe resort entitled us to this extra touch of luxury.

We will be staying at the WL for two nights during our upcoming visit and I must say, reading your report has made me much more enthusiastic! I'm going to have to sign up for the turn down service. I love novelties, too.

In the early years of our marriage we participated in Civil War reenacting and also belonged to a Victorian Dance Society. I hate to say it, but Scarlet and Rhett would have run screaming from us in a ballroom. Once safely out of reach I can imagine Scarlett drawling, “Oh, Rhett! Who were those odious, clumsy people? It’s bad enough someone invited poor white trash to this ball, but they couldn’t even dance!”

First off--excellent incorporation of Scarlet and Rhett into a trip report! Almost on a par with bunnysmum including the Maginot Line in hers--something I NEVER thought I'd see with my own eyes! Secondly--I share your lack of balance problem. Did you ever hear how I fell down the steps at Lights, Stars, Motorcars? If you get a minute, check out my pre-trip report and you'll get to read about my own stunt show.

My jeans feel tighter. Probably my Depends are bunching up.

Freaking hysterical. You made me laugh out loud, Kay! I'm sure he was just being gentlemanly and you were the cutest girl there.

“How about a stick pony race across the lobby?’

And she's back! Excellent installment, Kay! I can't wait to hear more!

 

[Maleficent13]

Just wanting to say it was "strongly suggested" to me that I check out your report (hi, Amy! ...hey, I'm her peep...I have to do what she says!) and I have to say that although I've only made it to page 3 so far I am loving it!