Bdawgsc
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Oct 13, 2009
- Messages
- 158
Before I pass out, here's a quick update on the last-minute Disney Weekend.
Friday
Hit the road around 8am. Hey, that's SUPER early for me. I'm not a morning person. Luckily, there wasn't much to pack or bring along, so a duffel bag, cooler for, umm, sodas and the iPad went in the car and cruised out of town.
All went well.
Until.
Orlando. Holy Sweet Mother at the traffic on I4. It was bumper to bumper from the Doppler (I don't know where it is, just that when I hit the doppler I'm almost there) to past Universal. I lost a good hour in traffic, but pulled into All Stars about 3-3:30ish.
Complaint #1 - I roll up to security. No, "security". I have my ID ready and expect to get frisked, patted down, etc etc etc... nothing.. just "Come on in." Now really?!?!?!?! I mean, REALLY? With everything that's been happening at the resorts, was this a good time to stop checking ID's? Names on lists? I mean, if someone were to want to bust my window and take my stereo, I bet they have a driver's license. That's apparently all it takes to get into a resort these days. But I digress. Really, not the end of the world, just something to keep in mind.
I got checked in by a cast member who I apparently have met before in a social situation. I, of course, being old, fat, bald, senile, etc couldn't exactly remember, but I played along to be polite. I was given a super great room location. It was even ready.
I checked in, showered, napped a little and then headed over to MK.
This is where it all started to go horribly wrong (for me, at least). Well, if not "wrong" just a rude awakening that it wasn't a sleepy WDW weekend.
Everything looked empty... and then I got to MK. The crowds. OH THE CROWDS! It was like July 4th! Wowsers. Doing most anything was totally out of the question, so I pushed up Main Street, through adventureland, over to Haunted Mansion and jumped on that, then ate at CHH (it was fine, but the dining plan inconveniencing us cash payers is still annoying as the family of 4 in front of me took a good 12 minutes - I timed it - to order 55 different things). I ran off to Philharmagic - another favorite - and then watched Wishes from behind the Castle. I was pretty much alone back there which was kinda fun for such a crowded night. I walked the park a little more waiting on everyone to leave. I stupidly thought that 20 minutes was enough. I was very, very wrong. I got to the hub and it was wall to wall people STILL trying to exit the park. The park closed at 9. I tried to hit the Emporium, but you couldn't move in there. I got back to the resort around 11. A drink was in order.
SATURDAY
I headed over to DHS pretty early and was, again, a little over-whelmed with the crowds. It was odd. The streets were SUPER crowded, but ToT and RnRC had 30 min waits. I coastered it, had some lunch, met someone whose name I can't remember from the camping board, hit ToT and then tried to walk back through the park to see what else didn't have a wait. For some reason everyone was in the back of the park just milling around. Odd, but overwhelming. It was about 2 so I headed back to All Star to nap, hit the pool, have a "soda" and relax a while.
I ended up falling asleep since the love bug dip was a bust. I know I'm sweet and all, but enough of the bugs!
I had a quick dinner with some of the CM's from the resort - don't ask... I didn't encourage it, but they were off "duty" and just kinda started chatting me up while I was ordering. It would have been rude to say no, so I hung with the "cool kids" for a bit. I headed over to Epcot around 6. It wasn't too crowded at all. I had a few drinks on my way around the world, hit The American Adventure, had another beer on my way to my secret Illuminations spot and then called it a night.
***Insert hour bus wait here**no one's fault. Just takes a while to load disabled folks on the busses. That doesn't bother me at all since I hope no one would be upset if it were me on a scooter trying to get my Epcot on. I'm just spoiled since I usually drive myself.
I got back to the resort and decided I wanted a cookie. This is where meltdown #1 almost happened. REALLY! Once again, the DDP was out to get me. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE was trying to use up their snack credits all at once. People ordering, seriously, SIX brownie sundae's. SIX! So 45 min later I finally got myself some ice cream and collapsed watching the end of SNL in the room.
Sunday
Blah. Departure depression.
Woke up surprisingly early considering the sugar coma I should have been in. Got myself together, had some coffee (I had to fight for it amongst DDP breakfast/snack getters), and loaded the car to head over to DAK, AKA "Love Bugs on EVERYTHING" Park.
I went in, caught the FOTLK show to cheer up and then walked over to Everest and hopped right on. I had the internal "Do more attractions or just suck it up and go home before it gets too late" debate. Somehow I actually left the park. I stopped looking for food on my way out, but nothing sounded too appetizing short of Tusker House. I figured eating 20000 calories before the drive wasn't the smartest idea.
And then Breakdown #2. I couldn't get out of DAK. I literally almost had to push people out of my way. They just cut you off and then stop. I got the impression that most park goers were first timers, so I get it, but if you're lost DON'T STAND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WALK WAY! I'm not talking once, twice or even 10 times. It was almost enough to ruin the morning and took forever to get out since I just kept stopping and having to reroute.
And then I lost the car to top it all off. That's the last time I take note of what row the tram attendant tells me i'm in instead of looking myself.
After a brief 5 minutes of panic I 1) Made note to stop and get a new battery for keyless entry/horn honker and 2) Found the car and unknotted my stomach. I was on the road and headed back to Chucktown before noon. No traffic and an overall nice drive back.
It was a great weekend despite a few little glitches. Also, I saw TONS of other gay guys and a few ladies, too. Maybe I missed the memo about something going on this weekend?
Friday
Hit the road around 8am. Hey, that's SUPER early for me. I'm not a morning person. Luckily, there wasn't much to pack or bring along, so a duffel bag, cooler for, umm, sodas and the iPad went in the car and cruised out of town.
All went well.
Until.
Orlando. Holy Sweet Mother at the traffic on I4. It was bumper to bumper from the Doppler (I don't know where it is, just that when I hit the doppler I'm almost there) to past Universal. I lost a good hour in traffic, but pulled into All Stars about 3-3:30ish.
Complaint #1 - I roll up to security. No, "security". I have my ID ready and expect to get frisked, patted down, etc etc etc... nothing.. just "Come on in." Now really?!?!?!?! I mean, REALLY? With everything that's been happening at the resorts, was this a good time to stop checking ID's? Names on lists? I mean, if someone were to want to bust my window and take my stereo, I bet they have a driver's license. That's apparently all it takes to get into a resort these days. But I digress. Really, not the end of the world, just something to keep in mind.
I got checked in by a cast member who I apparently have met before in a social situation. I, of course, being old, fat, bald, senile, etc couldn't exactly remember, but I played along to be polite. I was given a super great room location. It was even ready.
I checked in, showered, napped a little and then headed over to MK.
This is where it all started to go horribly wrong (for me, at least). Well, if not "wrong" just a rude awakening that it wasn't a sleepy WDW weekend.
Everything looked empty... and then I got to MK. The crowds. OH THE CROWDS! It was like July 4th! Wowsers. Doing most anything was totally out of the question, so I pushed up Main Street, through adventureland, over to Haunted Mansion and jumped on that, then ate at CHH (it was fine, but the dining plan inconveniencing us cash payers is still annoying as the family of 4 in front of me took a good 12 minutes - I timed it - to order 55 different things). I ran off to Philharmagic - another favorite - and then watched Wishes from behind the Castle. I was pretty much alone back there which was kinda fun for such a crowded night. I walked the park a little more waiting on everyone to leave. I stupidly thought that 20 minutes was enough. I was very, very wrong. I got to the hub and it was wall to wall people STILL trying to exit the park. The park closed at 9. I tried to hit the Emporium, but you couldn't move in there. I got back to the resort around 11. A drink was in order.
SATURDAY
I headed over to DHS pretty early and was, again, a little over-whelmed with the crowds. It was odd. The streets were SUPER crowded, but ToT and RnRC had 30 min waits. I coastered it, had some lunch, met someone whose name I can't remember from the camping board, hit ToT and then tried to walk back through the park to see what else didn't have a wait. For some reason everyone was in the back of the park just milling around. Odd, but overwhelming. It was about 2 so I headed back to All Star to nap, hit the pool, have a "soda" and relax a while.
I ended up falling asleep since the love bug dip was a bust. I know I'm sweet and all, but enough of the bugs!
I had a quick dinner with some of the CM's from the resort - don't ask... I didn't encourage it, but they were off "duty" and just kinda started chatting me up while I was ordering. It would have been rude to say no, so I hung with the "cool kids" for a bit. I headed over to Epcot around 6. It wasn't too crowded at all. I had a few drinks on my way around the world, hit The American Adventure, had another beer on my way to my secret Illuminations spot and then called it a night.
***Insert hour bus wait here**no one's fault. Just takes a while to load disabled folks on the busses. That doesn't bother me at all since I hope no one would be upset if it were me on a scooter trying to get my Epcot on. I'm just spoiled since I usually drive myself.
I got back to the resort and decided I wanted a cookie. This is where meltdown #1 almost happened. REALLY! Once again, the DDP was out to get me. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE was trying to use up their snack credits all at once. People ordering, seriously, SIX brownie sundae's. SIX! So 45 min later I finally got myself some ice cream and collapsed watching the end of SNL in the room.
Sunday
Blah. Departure depression.
Woke up surprisingly early considering the sugar coma I should have been in. Got myself together, had some coffee (I had to fight for it amongst DDP breakfast/snack getters), and loaded the car to head over to DAK, AKA "Love Bugs on EVERYTHING" Park.
I went in, caught the FOTLK show to cheer up and then walked over to Everest and hopped right on. I had the internal "Do more attractions or just suck it up and go home before it gets too late" debate. Somehow I actually left the park. I stopped looking for food on my way out, but nothing sounded too appetizing short of Tusker House. I figured eating 20000 calories before the drive wasn't the smartest idea.
And then Breakdown #2. I couldn't get out of DAK. I literally almost had to push people out of my way. They just cut you off and then stop. I got the impression that most park goers were first timers, so I get it, but if you're lost DON'T STAND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WALK WAY! I'm not talking once, twice or even 10 times. It was almost enough to ruin the morning and took forever to get out since I just kept stopping and having to reroute.
And then I lost the car to top it all off. That's the last time I take note of what row the tram attendant tells me i'm in instead of looking myself.
After a brief 5 minutes of panic I 1) Made note to stop and get a new battery for keyless entry/horn honker and 2) Found the car and unknotted my stomach. I was on the road and headed back to Chucktown before noon. No traffic and an overall nice drive back.
It was a great weekend despite a few little glitches. Also, I saw TONS of other gay guys and a few ladies, too. Maybe I missed the memo about something going on this weekend?
