PrincessAurora
<font color=blue>Hmpphh! Who needs that boy in gre
- Joined
- Oct 26, 1999
- Messages
- 1,368
DAY SEVEN - SHORT MGM JAUNT, DTD, FULTON'S CRAB HOUSE, PLEASURE ISLAND AND THE ADVENTURE'S CLUB - KONGALOOSH!
CAST:
"Pinky" AKA PrincessAurora - Computer geek, web designer, and Disney Princess Fiend. Already planning next trip to The World.
"The Brain" AKA Captain_Nemo - Applied Mathematics Major, first timer at WDW, trying hard to put his trust in his "native guide".
(Please note all detailed food reviews are featured as a separate report after Day 8)
Another beautiful day (but all days are beautiful in The World!) and a decision must be made of what to do with this last full day. Sigh. We decided to split the day with a quick jaunt through MGM and then Magic Kingdom. Grits were eaten (much better than the lumpy ones previously) and we were off!
Note to non-Los Angeles/California people: This is not meant as a dis' of MGM but the both of us have what I call an LA blase attitude about MGM as a whole. Having spent 13 years in LA myself and The Brain having grown up there, we've see and done Universal (which about covers it for us). Having lived in Hollyweird so long - movies, filming shows, set tours and the like have zero appeal for us. Disney-MGM is mostly shops and shows with very little in the way of rides. The shows I saw last time were "very" poor in acting quality when compared with all I've grown up around. My acting ego having spouted, there were a few things I found enjoyable and one attraction that was not open when I was there last - so we decided to give it a few hours. That being said....
We arrive at MGM and I drag The Brain through the crowd towards where I remembered the Muppet Theatre to be. I knew it was behind Groman's to the left but I got stuck by the Indy stunt show (closed BTW) and forgot the right turn. So, it's back to the front to grab a map while The Brain mocks my native guide ability.
Back on track, we head towards Muppet Central. Now I have to explain something here. On my previous trip, after experiencing this 3-D attraction -I just HAD to buy a stuffed "Bean" Bunny! It was my big purchase of the trip. The Brain has always been a bit confused with me waving this rabbit in his face at home and squealing "BEAN!!!!" OK, so I'm insane. But now he'll understand what I'm talking about, so I drag him in. This is a very entertaining 3-D movie, very charming and I especially liked Bean. The Brain thought that it went on too long but that it was VERY kid friendly which I agree with. However, I don't think that anything with Bean in it goes on too long.
Well, here we are with nothing to do. Star Tours we've done to death at Disneyland and since it's the same simulator ride, there are no new variants. So it's a pass. We decide to shop. Good alternative. Walking across that back of the park, The Brain stops for more.... you guessed it, pin trading. Now I'm still looking for the Aurora pin so I'm getting as bad as him. The cast member does not have it but thought another cast member had it on their lanyard so she calls. Lo and behold, another cast member shows up with THE AURORA PIN!!! I trade a Jane pin (which some people thought was a lame pin, but I liked it) for the coveted Aurora pin. This one goes in the fanny pack, NOT on the lanyard. Now I am happy and all is right with the world.
On to rides, there are not many. There is Tower of Terror which I have heard much about. We walk in this direction when I discover The Brain's Achilles heel. He doesn't like "let's get dropped from high places" types of rides. Hmmm. How do I work this to my advantage? As I pondered this and got ready to leave I remembered that Rock N Roller Coaster (which was not open when I was last here) was open and was suppose to be FAST! Isn't that what The Brain has been pissin' about the entire weekend - it isn't fast enough? Well, I'm not usually a fast rollercoaster kind of gal but heard good things about this one. We got Fast Passes and then went shopping. Hey, nothing else to do.
As we wandered, I pointed out different landmarks such as the 50's diner where you eat in a Beaver Cleaver type kitchen and the servers interact with you. The Brain is so WAY above having people whank at him while he eats that he avoided this studiously. I figure you have to have the right people and the right mind set for this. Besides, I hate meatloaf. I'm a fois gras type of gal myself, give me Flying Fish and V&A's anytime! I figured God did not give me a vacation to make me eat meatloaf so off we went.
I stopped in one great shop and made my BIG purchase of the week, a limited edition Walt & Mickey pocket watch with matching wood display case. VERY nice. I was not about to let it out of my sight. We had an ice cream sandwich, looked at some more shops and then back to our ride.
Rock N Roller coaster is sponsored by Aerosmith. The premise is you are in a limo, racing through LA streets to meet Aerosmith at their concert. As you wait to board the ride you see others being launched, yes - launched into the ride. This ride does have inversions (a first for Disney). After you are strapped in, your car is pretty much rocket launched forward going from 0-60 in 2.5 seconds. According to cast member information, when you enter the first turns you are pulling 5 g's. This is 3 g's more than the shuttle astronauts experience being blasted into space. Fun, huh? This ride is Fast. Very Fast. But also VERY fun! It's dark but not too dark, you have great Aerosmith music blaring in your ears and hurdle past oversize freeway signs, through giant donuts and finally up to the concert to disembark. Pinky loved this ride. It was VERY Cool. The Brain was in ecstasy. FINALLY a ride that is fast enough!! Both Pinky and The Brain give this one a HUGE 10!!!
Well, I had to drag The Brain away from this one to catch the bus to the Magic Kingdom. A quick consultation as to what we missed and away we go. We stopped by The Timekeeper as I had heard about it on the Board but didn't know what it was. It is another Circle vision-style movie about a journey back and forward in time with Jules Verne. I thought that The Brain would like this but I was a bit wrong. The Brain didn't find it very funny and not very entertaining while Pinky thought that it was a nice presentation and enjoyable for the whole family. I guess a split decision on that one.
Then we had a leisurely ride down the Rivers of America on the paddleboat. That was very nice although I saw they replaced the Indians burning the settlers cabin theme with river pirates burning the cabins. Well, the last time I went on this ride in Disneyland it was 1976 or thereabouts. More shopping and a quick jaunt through the lands and then it was back to the resort for, you guessed it, a nap before our final big blow-out at Pleasure Island.
Before the trip to the Adventurers Club, we had dinner at Fulton's Crab House. This we were almost late for since the boats to DTD were running rather slow that night. It was a good dinner although not the best due to our oddly strange waiter, Bill.
After that experience and the fact that I couldn't have any liquor due to my cough, we went to World of Disney to finish our shopping. Then I saw the strangest thing of my whole trip - a gaggle of teenage girls carrying cardboard cutouts that they dressed in clothes with the faces of some bubblegum grunge band pasted on them and holding a video camera. They were stopping people on the street, having them pose with these cut-outs, asking them questions... I just stared in horror. Brain tried to pull me away but it was like watching a train wreak. Finally we ducked into the safety of the Disney store and so The Brain could make his BIG purchase - a toy monorail and track that runs. It's all he talked about for the past few days and now it was his. Boys and their toys.
Back to our place in the Adventurer's Club which was very crowded. Now I remember, Thursday is employee night at PI. We stay for a bit, listen to the banter.
"Now kid, if you want to get your parents in trouble when you get home, just tell your teacher that they told you they were going to take you to DisneyWorld but took you to a bar instead. Do your parents always take you to bars?"
This should make it abundantly clear where the majority of cast members fall on the bringing small kids to Pleasure Island issue. But, I know, another topic for the debate board. We went into the library with our drinks, watched the Balderdash cup show, hung out for a bit more and left. I was still feeling a bit squingy (another technical term) and needed to be poured into bed. Hey, I was drinking hot liquor. It was purely medicinal.
Well another day down and we leave tomorrow. Not much more time to take over The World.
Next: Day Eight - Dixie Landings, Must Have More Fun, Trip Home
CAST:
"Pinky" AKA PrincessAurora - Computer geek, web designer, and Disney Princess Fiend. Already planning next trip to The World.
"The Brain" AKA Captain_Nemo - Applied Mathematics Major, first timer at WDW, trying hard to put his trust in his "native guide".
(Please note all detailed food reviews are featured as a separate report after Day 8)
Another beautiful day (but all days are beautiful in The World!) and a decision must be made of what to do with this last full day. Sigh. We decided to split the day with a quick jaunt through MGM and then Magic Kingdom. Grits were eaten (much better than the lumpy ones previously) and we were off!
Note to non-Los Angeles/California people: This is not meant as a dis' of MGM but the both of us have what I call an LA blase attitude about MGM as a whole. Having spent 13 years in LA myself and The Brain having grown up there, we've see and done Universal (which about covers it for us). Having lived in Hollyweird so long - movies, filming shows, set tours and the like have zero appeal for us. Disney-MGM is mostly shops and shows with very little in the way of rides. The shows I saw last time were "very" poor in acting quality when compared with all I've grown up around. My acting ego having spouted, there were a few things I found enjoyable and one attraction that was not open when I was there last - so we decided to give it a few hours. That being said....
We arrive at MGM and I drag The Brain through the crowd towards where I remembered the Muppet Theatre to be. I knew it was behind Groman's to the left but I got stuck by the Indy stunt show (closed BTW) and forgot the right turn. So, it's back to the front to grab a map while The Brain mocks my native guide ability.
Back on track, we head towards Muppet Central. Now I have to explain something here. On my previous trip, after experiencing this 3-D attraction -I just HAD to buy a stuffed "Bean" Bunny! It was my big purchase of the trip. The Brain has always been a bit confused with me waving this rabbit in his face at home and squealing "BEAN!!!!" OK, so I'm insane. But now he'll understand what I'm talking about, so I drag him in. This is a very entertaining 3-D movie, very charming and I especially liked Bean. The Brain thought that it went on too long but that it was VERY kid friendly which I agree with. However, I don't think that anything with Bean in it goes on too long.
Well, here we are with nothing to do. Star Tours we've done to death at Disneyland and since it's the same simulator ride, there are no new variants. So it's a pass. We decide to shop. Good alternative. Walking across that back of the park, The Brain stops for more.... you guessed it, pin trading. Now I'm still looking for the Aurora pin so I'm getting as bad as him. The cast member does not have it but thought another cast member had it on their lanyard so she calls. Lo and behold, another cast member shows up with THE AURORA PIN!!! I trade a Jane pin (which some people thought was a lame pin, but I liked it) for the coveted Aurora pin. This one goes in the fanny pack, NOT on the lanyard. Now I am happy and all is right with the world.
On to rides, there are not many. There is Tower of Terror which I have heard much about. We walk in this direction when I discover The Brain's Achilles heel. He doesn't like "let's get dropped from high places" types of rides. Hmmm. How do I work this to my advantage? As I pondered this and got ready to leave I remembered that Rock N Roller Coaster (which was not open when I was last here) was open and was suppose to be FAST! Isn't that what The Brain has been pissin' about the entire weekend - it isn't fast enough? Well, I'm not usually a fast rollercoaster kind of gal but heard good things about this one. We got Fast Passes and then went shopping. Hey, nothing else to do.
As we wandered, I pointed out different landmarks such as the 50's diner where you eat in a Beaver Cleaver type kitchen and the servers interact with you. The Brain is so WAY above having people whank at him while he eats that he avoided this studiously. I figure you have to have the right people and the right mind set for this. Besides, I hate meatloaf. I'm a fois gras type of gal myself, give me Flying Fish and V&A's anytime! I figured God did not give me a vacation to make me eat meatloaf so off we went.
I stopped in one great shop and made my BIG purchase of the week, a limited edition Walt & Mickey pocket watch with matching wood display case. VERY nice. I was not about to let it out of my sight. We had an ice cream sandwich, looked at some more shops and then back to our ride.
Rock N Roller coaster is sponsored by Aerosmith. The premise is you are in a limo, racing through LA streets to meet Aerosmith at their concert. As you wait to board the ride you see others being launched, yes - launched into the ride. This ride does have inversions (a first for Disney). After you are strapped in, your car is pretty much rocket launched forward going from 0-60 in 2.5 seconds. According to cast member information, when you enter the first turns you are pulling 5 g's. This is 3 g's more than the shuttle astronauts experience being blasted into space. Fun, huh? This ride is Fast. Very Fast. But also VERY fun! It's dark but not too dark, you have great Aerosmith music blaring in your ears and hurdle past oversize freeway signs, through giant donuts and finally up to the concert to disembark. Pinky loved this ride. It was VERY Cool. The Brain was in ecstasy. FINALLY a ride that is fast enough!! Both Pinky and The Brain give this one a HUGE 10!!!
Well, I had to drag The Brain away from this one to catch the bus to the Magic Kingdom. A quick consultation as to what we missed and away we go. We stopped by The Timekeeper as I had heard about it on the Board but didn't know what it was. It is another Circle vision-style movie about a journey back and forward in time with Jules Verne. I thought that The Brain would like this but I was a bit wrong. The Brain didn't find it very funny and not very entertaining while Pinky thought that it was a nice presentation and enjoyable for the whole family. I guess a split decision on that one.
Then we had a leisurely ride down the Rivers of America on the paddleboat. That was very nice although I saw they replaced the Indians burning the settlers cabin theme with river pirates burning the cabins. Well, the last time I went on this ride in Disneyland it was 1976 or thereabouts. More shopping and a quick jaunt through the lands and then it was back to the resort for, you guessed it, a nap before our final big blow-out at Pleasure Island.
Before the trip to the Adventurers Club, we had dinner at Fulton's Crab House. This we were almost late for since the boats to DTD were running rather slow that night. It was a good dinner although not the best due to our oddly strange waiter, Bill.
After that experience and the fact that I couldn't have any liquor due to my cough, we went to World of Disney to finish our shopping. Then I saw the strangest thing of my whole trip - a gaggle of teenage girls carrying cardboard cutouts that they dressed in clothes with the faces of some bubblegum grunge band pasted on them and holding a video camera. They were stopping people on the street, having them pose with these cut-outs, asking them questions... I just stared in horror. Brain tried to pull me away but it was like watching a train wreak. Finally we ducked into the safety of the Disney store and so The Brain could make his BIG purchase - a toy monorail and track that runs. It's all he talked about for the past few days and now it was his. Boys and their toys.
Back to our place in the Adventurer's Club which was very crowded. Now I remember, Thursday is employee night at PI. We stay for a bit, listen to the banter.
"Now kid, if you want to get your parents in trouble when you get home, just tell your teacher that they told you they were going to take you to DisneyWorld but took you to a bar instead. Do your parents always take you to bars?"
This should make it abundantly clear where the majority of cast members fall on the bringing small kids to Pleasure Island issue. But, I know, another topic for the debate board. We went into the library with our drinks, watched the Balderdash cup show, hung out for a bit more and left. I was still feeling a bit squingy (another technical term) and needed to be poured into bed. Hey, I was drinking hot liquor. It was purely medicinal.
Well another day down and we leave tomorrow. Not much more time to take over The World.
Next: Day Eight - Dixie Landings, Must Have More Fun, Trip Home
