Rigel Kent's "Paying Dues in Toontown," Day 5, 8/6/05

[Rigel Kent]

I had hoped that Len was right, that Saturday was a good day to go
to the Magic Kingdom! The predicted crowd level was 8 (ouch!), and
the day was August 6, 2005.

That's no typo! Yes, this report is one year old. But I took actual
notes on the actual day. Plus, the digital photos have time stamps.

It turns out: Len *was* right! Saturday was great, at least before
noon, and it was tolerable after noon.

Dramatis Personae:
Me 41, DW 42, DD 10, DD7

On Thursday, we had already come here, so this was our second day. After MGM,
MK already, and Epcot, with very few character photos & autographs, we figured
the DD's were due for characters, characters, characters, so we planned our
day around Toontown! Taking a tip from a two-day plan at touringplans.com,
we started in Tomorrowland and made our way up to Toontown for its 10AM opening.
As usual, we modified the plans for our needs (the printed plan was for boys,
we had already experienced Space Mountain on Thursday, etc.). Also as usual,
our modifications certainly are not optimal, but we had lots and lots of fun anyway!

The early morning hours were for Animal Kingdom. The bus line for AK
was enormous at All Star Movies. Sorry if you were in that line.
We tried to be in the bus line at 8, but probably didn't make it.
We arrived at MK in time to see the pre-opening show again.

8:47 AM Waiting for the show.
8:52 AM Good show going on!

Today we were not going to stampede to Space Mountain so we watched the opening
show from slightly right of center. They threw streamers at us, I mean pixie dust,
just as the rope dropped. DW and I started to go while the DDs were standing
around picking up 5 cent streamer scraps, I mean priceless pixie dust.
But it was fun! I wonder if we still have that pixie dust....

At the end of Main St, we went right to cut through the Noodle Terrace. By the
time we got to the rope, it was gone. Our plan was to start at Astro
Orbiter, but not surprisingly, we got sidetracked by the fact that there was
no line at Buzz Lightyear. We'll decided to shoot at Z's. After that,
our party split up. I rode Buzz again with DD10, and DW rode Astro Orbiter with DD7.
Next we all met at Astro Orbiter and rode again, with DW sitting it out.
I rode in my own rocket. The lines were so short, there were still empty rockets!!
My feeling: Saturday in early August with crowd level 8 at the Magic Kingdom is wonderful!
But the smile on my face left when Astro Orbiter started. The ride gave me a sick
feeling. I figured out that it was better for me to keep the rocket high rather
than down low. We went down the elevator, and went right back up so DD10 and DD7
could fly that Astro Orbiter again. The CM at the bottom couldn't believe
the CM at the top made us come down. ("I told him there's no line down here!
I'm calling him again!")

**Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, Wait Time: "No wait."
**Buzz Lightyear (Me and DD10) & Astro Orbiter (DW and DD7), Wait Time: "No waits."
**Astro Orbiter (Me, DD10, DD7), Wait Time: "No wait."
**Astro Orbiter (DD10, DD7), Wait Time: "No wait."

9:24 to 9:30 AM = eleven photos of the DD's on Astro Orbiter.
Only one is any good.





To be continued.....


Previous trip reports:

Rigel Kent's Magical Early August Touring: Plan, Actual, Etc. Day 1 Arrive. Day 2 MGM

Rigel Kent's Day 3, Crowd Level 8 on 8/4/05: Dumbo-or-Don't-in-a-Day

Rigel Kent's Rookie Mistakes at Epcot on Day 4, 8/5/05

 

[Rigel Kent]

Finally we moved on toward the Tomorrowland Indy Speedway. At least the line
wasn't long yet. When we got near the loading area, we could stay on the near
side, or cross over to the far side. The near side looked like it was loading
up twice as fast as the far side (because there were two lanes of cars on the
near side, but only one on the far side). We took the near side, which was
a good choice. I noticed that the CMs were sweating buckets. This attraction
must be the one of the worst jobs for a CM--very hot. The ride is "OK" but not
really one of my favorites.

**Tomorrowland Indy Speedway, Wait Time: short <10 minutes?


Still making our way toward Toontown, we rode Mad Tea Party. No line!
As long as I hold onto the wheel, it's fun. DW and DD7 rode in one cup,
spinning like crazy. DD10 and I rode in another cup, trying not to spin at all.
Doesn't the Birnbaum book claim there is a dizzy mouse in the teapot in the middle?
We never saw it.

**Mad Tea Party, Wait Time: No wait.



9:50. The sign says 10 minute wait at Pooh, so we squeezed it in before
Toontown. Wonderful ride! We still had no success at finding any picture
with Mr. Toad.

**The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Wait Time: about 10 minutes.



Around 10:05 we went to Toontown.

DD7 wanted to ride Barnstormer. DD10 didn't, so she and DW went
to Minnie's house. DD7 and I rode Barnstormer. Yuck....that thing
is almost as bad as Astro Orbiter! It's so "whippy" that it gives me
a headache. DD7, on the other hand, rode it again, alone, without even
having to leave! Still no line! It's shocking to me that a Saturday at MK
in early August could be so empty. DW and DD10 rejoined us. They had been to
Minnie's house, and Pluto was in the back with no line! All four of us went
back so DD7 could see Pluto.

**Barnstormer (Me, DD7), Wait Time: No wait.
**10:08 Minnie's House (DW, DD10), photo of DD10 and Pluto, Wait Time: No wait.

**Barnstormer (DD7), Wait Time: No wait.
**10:10 Minnie's House (DW, DD10), photo of DD10 in Minnie's House.
**10:15-16 Minnie's House (all of us) Photos of DD7, Pluto, and Minnie's House.



Now off we went to the Toontown Hall of Fame.

Here is where I can hopefully save you some grief.

I will also ask for your advice, for our next trip.


To be continued......