P.O.T.C. On Stranger Rides! The Missing Chapter,,Final Thoughts,, Preview Thoughts.

[smidgy]

you know, Stephen Wright said "anywhere is walking distance, as long as you have the time.."

 

[pkondz]

you know, Stephen Wright said "anywhere is walking distance, as long as you have the time.."

One of my favorite comedians. Here's some of my fave lines...

I think it's wrong that only one company makes the game Monopoly.

It's a small world, buy I wouldn't want to have to paint it.

If one synchronised swimmer drowns, do all the rest have to drown too?

I was trying to daydream, but my mind kept wandering.

I poured spot remover on my dog. Now he's gone.

I installed a skylight in my apartment... the people who live above me are furious!

I saw a bank that said "24 Hour Banking", but I don't have that much time.

When I was a little kid we had a sand box. It was a quicksand box. I was an only child... eventually.

 

[cp'ersmom]

Love the squirrel pic!

 

[nebo]

Oh man, I am totally the same way. I always look at the parking passes on the dashboards in the resort lot. You know the ones they give you at check in when you have a vehicle with you. They say:

Beach Club Resort
August 23 - August 30

Then say to my wife, "Look at these people, they don't check out until the 30th!" Then I get mad and hate them, even though I don't know them at all and they are probably very nice people!

And don't get me started on seeing folks arriving and checking in during my last day. UGH, that is the worst!!!

Jay

Jake, I have said before you have to be aggresive in this situation, and go on the offense, first.
I love going past all the people waiting for Magical Depress to come and pick them up and minister last rites,, this is best done on the day you check in for optimal effect.

Bling squirrel? Like this?

You were talking about being in a bubble. There was a Seinfeld episode where George plays Trivial Pursuit with a "Bubble boy" who's really obnoxious. The last question asked of George is, "Who invaded Spain in the 8th century?" George answers the Moors, but Bubble boy says no, 'cause the card says "The Moops". They argue. They tussle. Elaine intervenes and pops the bubble.

Ponz,,, I knew that, seen it many times,, I was kind of playing with the chance to make a Moog synthesizer pun,,,,, it crashed and burned.


".

And nice rodent Ponzi,,,, I didn't notice that typo either.

Now THAT would be an awesome report....Nebo's view of the snooty V&A!

I've considered going there before but for the price, I'm not willing to risk it. I always think the idea of fru-fru food, but am almost always disappointed with the taste. If I want steak and potatoes....then give me that....not some water buffalo and mashed turnips.

But I stilll might eat there before Akershus!

 

[nebo]

Another great chapter!! I too have a rocking chair, MY spot in MK. It's right around the corner from Columbia House in Liberty Square. There are 2 rocking chairs on what looks like a porch on a stately home. Most people walk right by and never see it. I once spent 2 hours there just rocking away, watching the people and really soaking in the atmosphere. It is one of my most favorite Disney memories. I met some very nice people, relaxed and just enjoyed.


Nebo you list is amazing, as is your memory. I couldn't even begin to put together a list like that. I hope someday you guys really can live there or at least get to stay there for 6 months straight!

I am going to make a point of looking for those chairs, I also want to spend more time sitting on a bench sometimes and watch the street performers at the Studios,,, or listen to the barbershop accapella singers on main street,,, we are always too rushed,,, never take the time. But it's looking more and more like there will be plenty of time for a lot of these things on our April/May trip,,, Big Thunder will be closed,,,, along with Test Track,,,, heck,, even the Liberty Belle will be down and that was always good for killing 25 minutes relaxing.

A 6 MONTH LONG TR?!

How long would it take you to write?! For a two week trip it takes what... 4, 5 months to do a TR? Plus.. how are we supposed to live without your updates for 6 MONTHS?! Could. Not. Do. It. Nope. Couldn't.

Yeah... it sounds good to you.. but what would we do for 6 months?
I shudder at the thought.

Let's keep all trips to a month or less.... for the sake of you TR readers... it's like a tv show going on hiatus... you'd never have an audience again...
who am I kidding.. the second we got an e-mail update saying Nebs and Smidgy were back, we'd all be going:

Anyway... if you're going to do something like a 6 month trip... at least give us a while to adjust to the thought of you not being here... it's already making me nervous.

That would just be so cool to try to do,,, a six month stay at Disney,,,, and try to keep a report interesting? Shoot, people would get to the point where they want me to hurt myself every other week! I don't have that much blood!

I SO remember the "moop" episode!! and, when I saw the
bling squirrel" typo, I was thinking the same thing, only don't know how to do all that fancy stuff!!!

and, honey, it was MY ancestors who fought in the American Revolution (out of Virginia, my dad was a memeber of the SAR). yours were chanting "Duetchland Uber Alles" (waiting for marita to spellcheck here)

Yes honey, I know your family was from the Revolution and mine were probably in the Prussian wars,,, but if I said that, how could I use the Minuteman line?

Ok, new chapter tomorrow,,,, and all you thirsty bloodsuckers are finally going to get your wish, all though it still won't be as bad to me as the the Skunga that got sprayed on my arm from that kid sneezing on me.
No, I don't know if skunga is a word, if not, it should be.

See ya tomorrow.

 

[PirateKate]

I found Disney By the Numbers very interesting! Great memory! I could never remember all the stats on my Disney history.

A six month trip would be incredible...I wonder how long any one has actually stayed onsite at WDW.

 

[akayek31]

Ok after getting lost around page 110 I have finally caught up. I have this new addiction to the touringplans chat room. Anyway, you had me laughing so hard tonight that I almost cried at the sneeze. I am the same way with bodily fluids. I have kids but can not be around blood or vomit. You really should eat at Liberty tree. We loved it. Not eating there this time since DS wants to eat at Crystal Palace. We ate at Tony's twice and can tell you to stick to the spaghetti. Now that I have caught up I can go to sleep now. Night

 

[pkondz]

Ponz,,, I knew that, seen it many times,, I was kind of playing with the chance to make a Moog synthesizer pun,,,,, it crashed and burned.

Ah, but I did get the Moop Sympathizer pun right away. I just didn't want you to think I was sympathetic to your Moop so you would mope.

I found Disney By the Numbers very interesting! Great memory! I could never remember all the stats on my Disney history.

A six month trip would be incredible...I wonder how long any one has actually stayed onsite at WDW.

Do a search on "longest stay" and you'll get tons of threads (like this one:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2784770&highlight=longest+stay)

It looks like European visitors tend to stay for 21 nights when they stay long. Otherwise 2 weeks seems to be the norm... HOWEVER...

One poster mentioned staying at AKL for 45 days while looking for a place to live shortly after 9/11

Another poster tells of meeting a retired gentleman who had been staying at FW for 16 months!

And there was the rumour of the old lady who's been at POFQ for 2 1/2 years. Don't think I buy that one though.

 

[nebo]

We ate at Tony's twice and can tell you to stick to the spaghetti. Now that I have caught up I can go to sleep now. Night

Night

Do a search on "longest stay" and you'll get tons of threads (like this one:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2784770&highlight=longest+stay)

It looks like European visitors tend to stay for 21 nights when they stay long. Otherwise 2 weeks seems to be the norm... HOWEVER...

One poster mentioned staying at AKL for 45 days while looking for a place to live shortly after 9/11

Another poster tells of meeting a retired gentleman who had been staying at FW for 16 months!

And there was the rumour of the old lady who's been at POFQ for 2 1/2 years. Don't think I buy that one though.

Boy, I can see the FW one, if you've got a nice RV, that could almost be affordable,,,,, only problem is,,, I don't like it over there to stay,,,, it's just way too dark and shaded for my liking,,,,, and I want palm trees, not pines.

Ok, gonna finish up next chapter now,,,, back soon:
That's if it lets me,,, it took me 6 tries just to get to this screen where I can reply,,, now to see if it posts....

 

[nebo]

.....Meanwhile, with the yellow jacket still stinging as many guests as she can that were only looking for quiet and relaxation, Smidgy and Nebo are sipping on a Creamsickle,,,Dreamsickle?, at the pool's edge, just talking.

By the way dear readers, the event you are going to read about a bit later really happened, and the scary part is that it has now happened twice to me in the last ten years or so.
Even I feel like this is a put on,,,too convenient to liven up the end of a trip report when everybody is calling for blood,, "Yeah, yeah,,,, right", but it's true,,,, the worst part is,,, what your will read this chapter isn't the worst thing that happens still on this trip, that's for on the way home.

Ok, disclaimer over, "me thinks thou dost protest too much"

Back to the pool:

"So Marty, what do you want to do?"
This is a common line from either of us when it seems like conversation is in order but you don't know what to say.

From the E. Borginine movie that I think one the Oscar in the '50's, Marty.

But I had a topic/question for her I've been saving for just a situatiion like this:

"So, tell me, from the "Live like you were dying" train of thought, what would your Disney "Bucket List " be," I asked her.

"Me? Now?" She has never liked pop quizzes. They rank up there with colonoscopys.

Me? I have a bigger fear of semi-colonoscopy's,

"Ok", she responded, I still want to eat ONE OF THESE DAYS, at Tony's, oh, and I want to stay at least a 3 night stay at the Poly." "You?"

"I'll go along with the Poly thing, but I couldn't give a Tramp's asp if we ever get to eating at Tony's,, never heard much good about it," I replied.

"No, no," she said, "What's YOUR bucket list at Disney?"

I should have been prepared for this,,,since I was the one who brought it up, but I had to think for a few minutes, I'm always changing my mind about stuff and my "bucket" usually has a hole in it. "Okay,,,,,


"I have an ongoing bucket list when it comes to Disney, and that is to spend as much time as possible on Disney property."

"But if you had to pin me down to a couple things,, it would be to stay at one of Disneyland's hotels for a few nights, that would be one thing,,I really want to compare the "Land" to the "World" ,and you'll laugh at the other thing."

"No I won't, I promise, what is it?", she said.
(said the fox to the rabbit)

"Well, ok, if you promise not to laugh, ,, I want to go
Parasailing on Bay Lake, sailing high over the Contemporary Resort with my hair blow,,,,,um, feeling the wind in my face, being at the mercy of the Bay Lake breezes and suffering the freedom of lack of gravity,,,,sailing, soaring, sinking, rising,,, yeah, "I don't need to see good for this," I think after the initial shock and panic where off, I'd love it!

Uh huh,, well,, that was me, sharing.

Now, a lot of spouses would laugh hearing a confession like this coming from somebody like me, especially with knowledge of my history,,, but I knew I could count on Smidgy and her understanding me, almost 34 years of familiarity can't help but bring you close to a person.

How many times have I told you over all these trip reports,,, that sharing is over-rated?

With my "confession" now out in the open,,,, and thank God i didn't go into my thoughts on Swiss Family Tower of Terror, or The Enchanted Dumbo Room, I didn't quite get the response I was expecting.

I guess,,, "Wishfull Thinking" sums up most Bucket Lists,,at least as far as the activities go, and not for it being because the "end" is in sight, and Smidgy will understand my thoughts and appreciate them for what they really are,,,, just fantasies that we all have,,, those things that can still keep us young as we age but never, never have to say,,, "No, impossible."

well,,

Have you ever seen a person choke on a brightly colored orange Dreamsickle? Have you ever seen a brightly colored orange Dreamsickle come out of somebody's nose?

I think not.

But I have now!

At least this time the business end of a loaded proboscis
was pointed away from me.


"Yep, I knew I shouldn't have said anything," I told her.

When she got her face cleaned up she said, "Please tell me you're joking, You are joking, right? You can't go to the bathroom without hurting yourself, remember when you tied your shoelaces around your belt sitting on the john? and you want to go parasailing?" "You're Nuts!"

"Yes, I know I"m nuts, you've said it many times, and we both know that insanity runs,,well,, ok,,, limps in my family, but I still want to try it."

"You're serious?" she said with an astonished look on her face.

"Oh, I must, I must!" *

"Great," she said,,, "Now you are into extreme sports".

I had to try to explain a little bit,,,,

"Diane, walking down step and stairs is not supposed to be an extreme sport either,,,, but it ends up being one with me, accidentally, time after time.
Remember The Circle of Life,,,,, Stitch's Escape,,, those stairs? Or better yet,,, The Indy Stunt Show? I almost killed my self then,,, so who's to say what's "extreme"? ]

"Right", she grudgingly said,,," can't argue with any of that,, I feel much better now."

For the record,,, I am extremely afraid of heights,,, but I am also attracted to them at the same time,, no, I can't explain it, I'm kinda like the moth that hates bright lights,
but can't wait to go and meet the new purple thing hangin from the tree.

Depths also scare me,,,, but not so much widths. :rolleyes

That was pretty much the end of the subject, I told her you can parasail in tandems now, and I'd be thrilled to have you join me, but she barely even glanced up at me, it wasn't even worth a response.

We talked some more, but it felt like we were on borrowed time,,, and for one of the first times on the trip,, heck, first times on ANY of our trips,,, Diane asked if I was ready to go back up and have a drink as we get ready to get back to Magik Kingdom. Almost always,,, I'm the bad guy that has to keep an eye on the clock and say it's time to get going.

"Wait a minute," I asked, "You want to go back up for more drinks?"

Got a one word response from her as she shook her empty Dreamsickle plastic cup around,,,, " Si."

Her saying this was music to my ears:
on the first page of my little notebook that I occasionally use to jot stuff down for the trip reports, is a line I kind of liked and wanted to use in the report,,,, but up until now, I either forgot it or just didn't have the best opportunity to use it, at least until now.

So when she asked me if I'm ready to go up and have a drink in the room, my eyes lit up and I said,
"Wow, that's always my line, not yours, what planet are you from and what have you done with Diane?"

"What, don't you want another drink?" she asked.

"Take me to your 1.75 Liter!"

______________________________________________

Guess who got to run for ice again?

But no sign of the Hall monster this time.

Back in the room, I finally did something really stupid, and my luck ran out as the saying goes.

Yes,,, this is the moment you have all been waiting for,,,

enjoy!

The really strange thing you are about to read, is that I did the almost exact, same thing in my own kitchen about ten years ago. It was like replaying a scene from a sitcom with the same actors, just in a new location.

For some stupid reason,,,, I made a whiskey and Sprite in one of the really thick, heavy glasses that came with the room,, and believe me,,,, these things are just that, thick and heavy.

As we were getting ready, I carried it around with me,,,
table, makeshift bar top, and finally on the vanity, next to the sink, right below the mirror.

We also made up our last two Sunny D's to go with us to the Park. Our last two little bottles also went in my pocket, I'll bring them in the park since she gets busted trying it, but one of them is for her.
Yes,,, we timed things well, our supply held out nicely, and there is something that somehow feels fulfilling when you use the last items on the last day.

Then,,, remember how extremely clever I was yesterday in bringing a plastic cup with whiskey and ice down with me to wait for the bus? Well, on this, the last night, I'm not holding back, especially when we only have until 7 so anything goes.

I'm going to be just as clever this afternoon, and I filled a clear plastic cup with ice and some Black Velvet.

And I drank some of it,,it was just asking for it, so I filled it again. Now, I'm walking around the room with the plastic cup, the other drink forgotten by me, but still sitting next to the sink like a ticking time bomb.

As she was getting dressed, I figured I had time and maybe I ought ot upgrade my appearance at least a little bit,,,, sometimes on vacation I can get lapse on shaving, which I just hate to do.

Running a hand over my face,,, I thought heck, I really need a shave, so now I'm back at the vanity, "only take a minute or so" I thought. I've never really had a good electric razor, so my whole life I'm a disposable Bic or something similar guy, with shaving cream.

I had just finished shaving, snapped the cap back on the "Old Spice" shaving cream, and out of the corneer of my eye, I spotted the glass still sitting there.

But I wasn't thinking "glass", I wasn't thinking "heavy", I wasn't thinking I need to grip it harder than what I've been holding,,, I -just- wasn't- thinking.

I was expecting to pick up "plastic"
Which is much lighter.

Boy, how to descibe this;

I absently grabbed the, what I was expecting to be a plastic cup, and lifted in one motion,,, only to have my hand realize too late that this is heavy duty glassware, and about a foot off the vanity it slid right through my grasp.

Ok, but did I let it fall? Au contraire'!

I foolishly tried to catch it, I might have too, if the sink wouldn't have been in the way.

Hand caught up to glass same time glass impacted porcelan, or marble, or whatever, sink.

The glass didn't exactly shatter in little pieces, it was too thick for that, it basically exploded into 3 huge pieces, one of which I of course now forced into the side of my hand from trapping the broken glass between my hand and the sink bottom. It got the side of the hand where you would "Karate chop" something.

They say location is everything, and I couldn't have picked a better place to do this, as I stood there dumbfounded wondering what in the heck just happened, bleeding into the sink, Smidgy came running to see what the explosion was.

The cut wasn't as bad as it could've been, but there's something about a broken glass cut that always bleeds like crazy.

While I practiced my bleeding to make sure I was doing it right, and holding it under cold water, Smidgy called the desk to ask where we might be able to get a band aid,,, no problem, they'll send someone up.

As Diane was hanging up the phone there was a knock on the door, I guess Disney doesn't like you bleeding in their rooms.

I was still running my hand under cold water and never saw the guy, and he wanted no part of seeing the wound that brought him here in the first place,,,he just gave Smidgy a bunch of different sized band-aids and ran.
She was laughing at how many he gave her for free,,, I was thinking, "hmmm, he know something I don't know?"

The cold water helped stop the bleeding, and unless I spread the skin,,, it was hard to even see the cut, kind of funny how I could make my hand, "smile", by pulling on the sides.

I slapped a band aid on it, stuck another in my pocket just in case, grabbed my old Canon film camera because I still have too many shots left on the roll, grabbed the Sunny D,,,, AND, the plastic cup that got me in trouble in the first place,,, and we were out the door, heading to a Park for the last time this trip. We left just in time too, I was out of commas.

As we stood there waiting once more for a bus,,, I couldn't help but reflect on the weird gamut your emotions run on the last day, and according to Jay, I'm not alone.

You get hit with the depressing part, early in the day,
but as time goes by (boy, that would make a catchy song title) you not only learn to accept it, but almost embrace it.
You are already looking forward to the next trip!

One other thing I wanted to mention;
On the subject of sleeping in, or doing rope drop.

Of course, I can' only speak for myself, I'm a morning person.

But if you ask people when they got the best "Disney" feel, on their recent Disney trip,,,,most people will probably tell you it came the first night there,,,,sitting on the balcony,,, standing at the railing,,,,,doesn't matter where,
but it's usually the first day, and it makes sense.

Your mind knows it has the entire vacation left with all it's mysteries and adventures ahead of them.

Well, a good Rope Drop can have the same "anticipation" effect.

Many times we've gotten to the Parks at noon or so, and it's like getting to a party that's in full swing,,,,,, and has been,,, without you, as if you weren't needed.

But things change over time,, I used to swear by rope drop, I guess I still do for newbies, but for veterans,,, not so much anymore. Especially Epcot, no need.
You just need to get there before Soarin fastpasses are gone.

The same applies to the Studios,,,, to get Toy Story passes.

Animal Kingdom now seems a must for rope drop though, especially since they eliminated evening magic hours, with the park closing around 6 if you want to do it all,,,, good luck.

However, Magic Kingdom is a rope drop must,,, especially if you have kids and need to spend a lot of time in Fantasyland, I'm sorry, Fanatalyland, why wait a half hour or more when you can do the same thing in five minutes?

And there is something about walking through Fantasyland when it isn't crowded,,,,and right after you saw the welcome show that can get anyone's heart pumping!

Ok, I'm done, someone want to help me down from this soapbox?

Allrighty now, that's it for tonight, hope you got a few giggles out of the story,,, or at least your bloodlust is tempered for a while.

I'm hungry, who wants' to go for a corn dog?
There's a place in the NW side of Chicago named Franksville that has foot long Corn Dogs, I'm in the mood.

c'ya tomarra

 

[mmeb144]

Don't run out of commas too quick there Mr. Speedy! I hope you didn't need stitches for your hand. Good thing Diane was there to slap that bandaid on you.

 

[winkers]

I think you're the only person I know who seems to enjoy extreme sports as much as you. Just getting out of bed in the morning is tempting fate!

 

[smidgy]

I can see it now " major bulletin: for the first time in WDW history, the water bridge between Seven Sea Lagoon and Bay Lake is closed. some moron parasailing zigged when he should have zagged, then somehow wrapped the rope numerous times around the bridge posts, slaloming around them in a figure 8.
the waterbridge will reopen when they untangle him. they are also sending an EMT boat for his severe rope burns. oh, yeah and belly burns due to a belly flop that could be heard at Downtown disney."

 

[smidgy]

ps. happy birthday, Mmeb! (marie)

 

[orangecats2]

I like the idea of parasailing on Bay Lake. I also want to try it but DH does not. Maybe we could go together if we're ever there at the same time! What a first DIS meet that would be!

I have a confession - I'm not proud - but I've never seen rope drop. We really tried on our honeymoon but we were always 10 - 15 minutes late. On the next trip we didn't even try and slept in. Yes, I am ashamed.

I also don't really get depressed about leaving. I think, honestly, I'm just so exhausted by the last day that I want to get home to my own bed and sleep it off!

 

[melk]

I am finally caught up on your updates. Exactly one week ago today was our 'last day' from our surprise trip. Loved AKL, laughed while at the pool and the yellow jackets appearred. But I feel your last day depression. Do you always spend it at MK? We do. Leaving Main Street for the last time I always look back for that one good look at the castle...I get choked up and my husband rolls his eyes .

Looking forward to reading about your last night, but a little nervous about the ride home!

 

[yellowtink]

Nebo, only you can break a glass in you hand, get a cut, and turn it into something funny. I approve.

 

[mmeb144]

ps. happy birthday, Mmeb! (marie)

Thanks! It was good day made better by a trip update.

 

[Mom&RN]

Nebo, hijacking your thread for a moment. A "shout out" to jakeybake who is now officially DIS famous. Don't know how many of you listen to the DIS podcast but I am a loyal listener and jakeybake was mentioned a few weeks ago on the podcast for having one of the top ten DIS threads of the week. (I was behind and am catching up and just heard it yesterday) Congrats jakeybake!

 

[Thumper_Man]

ps. happy birthday, Mmeb! (marie)

Happy Belated Birthday Marie!