rgoble5972
Are we there yet?
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2001
- Messages
- 276
Day One - Saturday 5/1/04
CAST
Robin/Me - 40; trip planner/recorded; 11th trip to WDW
Paula/Sister to Robin - 30; 5th trip to WDW
Id be screaming like a girl at an Aaron Carter concert. Or, How I Won a Wet T-Shirt Contest
The Plan: flight to Orlando; check in at BWI; MGM
I was up at 5:00 to finish packing and get ready. Paula and Wes, her husband, got to the house at 6:40, and Wes obligingly took us to the airport. For the first time ever since the beginning of recorded flight at Kitty Hawk, both Paula and I made it through airport security without have to be wanded, scanned, swabbed, body-cavity searched, sniffed by bomb-detecting dogs, or any other more embarrassing forms of airport torture that the FAA has come up with. Generally, Paula is the one singled out for airport humiliation, although Ive had my share of scrutiny lately.
I picked up a couple of magazines at the airport gift shop to occupy our time on the long flight from Albuquerque to Orlando. The flight to Albuquerque was quick and we had a couple of hours to kill before our next flight, so we walked all over the airport. The find of the day was what can only be described as a magnetic Liberace glitter acrylic bottle cap. Baffling, I know, but thats the gist of it. And actually, they werent limited solely to Liberace. They were metal bottle caps (like off a bottle of coke) which an artist (and Im using that term very loosely now) had painted and then applied a magnet to the back of. On the inside of the bottle cap was a tiny picture of, say, Liberace, for example, which the artist had decorated with glitter and little confetti stars and hearts and then filled with clear acrylic so that the picture was protected for all eternity (thank goodness, because Im fairly certain some of these objects dart were priceless).
Now if these works of art had all been Liberace, why that in and of itself would be stellar, but the beauty of the collection was in the sheer randomness of the artists subjects. There was Marilyn Monroe, Rudy Giuliani, Ed Norton, Santa Claus, Little LuLu, Garth Brooks, the Jolly Green Giant, and various and assorted religious icons and saints, one of which, Im almost positive, was Saint Hubbins, the patron saint of sensible footwear. One can only imagine how Paula and I are having to live with the agonizing regret that we did not purchase any of these fine items.
After we marveled over the bottle caps, we grabbed a sandwich and coke each at Quiznos for the low, low bargain price of only $13.29. Theres nothing like airport food to get you mentally prepared for Disney prices.
When it was finally time to line up for our flight, we struck up a conversation with an older woman who was standing in line next to us. She asked if we were going to WDW and if it was our first time. We explained that we had been several times before, and then came the proverbial question. Whats the attraction? she asked. *Sigh* Some people just dont get it.
The flight from Albuquerque to Orlando was very long, but we arrived on time at 3:40. We enjoyed our first monorail ride of the trip and made our way to the luggage carousel. Our suitcases were easy to spot since Paula has Winnie the Pooh tapestry luggage and I have the tan and brown Mickey Mouse suitcases--much better than the standard issue black.
The Emerald Aisle at National was fairly full of cars. There were several SUVs again this trip, but Paulas eye fell on a bright red PT Cruiser, so we took it. It was a nice little car with plenty of room for our luggage.
On the drive to WDW property, I asked Paula what her decision was about Its A Small World. She admitted that it would probably be more hassle than it was worth to get to the MK, on a Grad Night, for one ride, so she bravely said that she could forego riding it this trip. I think Paula has made it to that milestone that those of us who are fortunate enough to come to WDW on a regular basis finally reach where, while we would like to be able to do certain things, we realize that its not the end of the world if we miss a few things here and there because well be back.
We made it to the Boardwalk by 4:30 and pulled into valet to unload our luggage. I left the keys in the car for the valet and Paula and I both got out of the car. The valet CM unloaded our luggage for us and shut the hatch back. At the same time, another valet shut the driver-side door of the car. Wouldnt you know, the car locked automatically with the keys still in the ignition. We tried the hatch back, the drivers door, and the front passenger door, to no avail. We could also see the extra key to the car, sitting in the console inside the locked Cruiser. Joy.
Interestingly enough, we werent the only car in front of the Boardwalk which had the keys locked in it--there was another car as well. As we debated what to do, the valet CM tried the passenger-side *back* door and, fortunately, it was unlocked. The first thing I did was to get the spare key and put it in my purse to avoid this happening again.
There was no line to speak of at check in and we were quickly registered and assigned room 1348 by CM Joe. Joe called bell services for us and had our luggage sent to our room, then he gave us some rather vague directions on how to get to the room while he circled vast expanses of the resort on the map. When he was done with the map of the resort it looked rather like one of John Maddens plays on Monday Night Football with lots of Xs and Os and wiggly lines, but we werent concerned because, after all, how hard could it be to find a room in a hotel, right?
Well, twenty minutes later, Paula and I were still wandering the halls in search of the elusive room 1348. We had a lovely tour of the convention center and had found our way out onto the Boardwalk two or three times, but couldnt find our room to save our lives. The directions we got from Joe were becoming more and more vague all the time. What did he say to do after we got off the elevator? I asked Paula, Nip up the wickershams?
Yes, Paula replied. Then I think he said to pop round the gorn and scumbles. Well, we might have been lost, but at least we still had our senses of humor, or perhaps we were just a bit simpled out from wandering the halls for so long. We finally ran into a bellman with our luggage, coming off the elevator. He had been to the room, apparently finding it with no problems, and was on his way back to the lobby since we werent there. Thats our luggage! I cried; glad to see anything familiar at this point. We confessed to the CM that we couldnt find our room and he nicely took us to it.
Our room was great--it was a corner room, so it was larger than most. Our patio looked out onto the quiet pool and a nice fountain. The bathroom was huge and had a small chest of drawers in the sink area, which was very handy. We didnt want to waste time looking around the room, however, when there were rides waiting to be ridden, so we quickly changed into shorts and headed out to MGM.
Youll be pleased to know that we couldnt find our way out either, but on our wanderings we saw the cottage rooms with their own private gardens that I had heard so much about. They were very pretty. Eventually, after several dead ends, a few elevator rides, much backtracking, and a trail of breadcrumbs, we made it out onto the Boardwalk.
The only drawback I can see to staying at the Boardwalk is that youve got that Under the Boardwalk song constantly running through your head while youre there. Not that I have anything against the song, its just that it gets a little old after about the 500th time youve sang it, in one day.
There wasnt a boat in sight when we exited onto the boardwalk so we took the walkway to MGM, which was very pleasant. Along the way we saw a momma duck with her baby ducks and a rabbit or two. The weather was lovely, for now anyway, and I asked Paula if I had mentioned to her today how much I love being at WDW.
We were soon at MGM and into our first park of the trip. Of course we immediately headed to the Tower of Terror (ToT). Paula got in line for ToT while I went to get Fast Passes (FP) for the Rock n Rollercoaster (RnRC). The RnRC was out of FPs for the day, so I checked at the Fast Pass machines for the ToT, but they were closed as well, so I joined Paula in line for the ToT. The stand by wait time was posted at 30 minutes but the line didnt look that bad to us, plus we had our hearts set on riding.
We were surprised at the number of high school kids that were in the park tonight. We had expected the MK to be overflowing with them, but really didnt expect the Grad Nights to effect the other parks. Also, it was a Saturday night, and Im sure that had something to do with it as well.
There was a most annoying couple in line behind us as we waited for the ToT. The husband was constantly on his cell phone and the wife was talking non-stop to him (whether he was on the phone or not) about how busy their schedule was for the next few months. If anyone is interested, email me and I can give you their complete itinerary through July at least.
The best thing that we were forced to overhear, however, was when the husband was (shocker) talking on his cell phone. Apparently he needed to come up with some sort of access code so he asked the man that he was on the phone with what his favorite three-digit number was. Your favorite three-digit number? Does anyone actually *have* a favorite three-digit number? I would be hard pressed to come up with a favorite one-digit number. Luckily, we lost them in the library of the ToT.
It was also in the library where we met the nicest group of 7th grade boys from Atlanta Georgia. They had driven down for a band concert at Epcot and were going to be driving back tonight. There were about five of them in line along with an adult sponsor. They showed us the pictures they drew on the animation tour and generally kept us amused with their talk in the library and all through the line in the basement.
One of the kids asked us if we had ever tried to float a penny in the elevator shaft. I said that I had never tried it, but I had heard about doing it, so the kid dug around in his pocket and gave Paula and me each a dime (as he was out of pennies) to float in our hands on the ToT. We balked at the idea of taking his dimes, but he insisted saying that we had to try it. Sure enough, you can float a coin on the drops, which is a pretty neat effect. We did catch up with the boy after the ride was over and give him his dimes back.
We went to Rock n Rollercoaster next. There were some newlyweds in line ahead of us and a CM pulled them out of line, made them kiss in front of everyone, and then let them go to the front of the line.
While we were waiting, Paula began to feel faint. We decided that it was probably because the last food we had eaten was about ten hours earlier so I promised her we could get something to eat after the ride. (Im not heartless, I said we could get out of line and get something to eat now, but Paula said she could make it until after the ride.)
The delightful boys from the ToT were behind us at RnRC also and we talked to them some more, comparing notes on where to sit for the best ride. They told us the very back was the best and, while I have ridden in the very front of the limo, I havent ever been in the last seat, so Ill have to take their word for it.
Once we got into the recording studio, one of the boys said that he wished it really was Steven Tyler in the studio and not just a film of him. If so, then hed be screaming like a girl at an Aaron Carter concert, which I thought was a vivid comparison. Im sure Steve would be pleased to know that theyre still appreciated by the younger generation.
I had never noticed before how many Lava Lamps they have in the recording studio. I wonder if Aerosmith is really into Lava Lamps or if someone in the prop department just got a good deal on them in bulk.
After our ride it was after 8:00, so I suggested that we go find some seats for Fantasmic and maybe grab a pretzel and something to drink (we didnt want to get too much to eat because we both had our hearts set on one of the corn dogs that they sell on the Boardwalk). We stopped at the entrance to the amphitheater to get a pretzel to share and some water. Once inside we found out that it was standing room only. We went over to the SRO section and found a space on the concrete risers to sit while we waited.
While we were waiting, the clouds that had been threatening all evening opened up and it began to rain. Not daunted by a little wetness, we waited until some of the wimpier guests departed and then we grabbed some seats in the bleachers. The announcement was made that the start of Fantasmic would be delayed due to the weather and then finally another announcement was made that the show would be canceled. We found out later that this was the third night in a row that they hadnt been able to have the show due to the lightning and rain.
We waited for the crowd to clear a little and then slogged out in the rain. Of course, Paulas umbrella and my poncho were both safe and dry back in our room, so we were very wet by this time. Somehow, being wet at Disney is a lot more fun than being wet at home, so, while we walked out of the park, Paula and I amused ourselves (not hard to do) by coming up with alternate lyrics for one of the most annoying songs in the Disney catalog, Step in Time. Thus, instead of the usual maddening Flap like a birdie, step in time, or the equally inane Link your elbows, step in time, (I know, youre frightened that I know so many of the lyrics to the song. Believe me, so am I) we came up with such enduring classics like Gee my butts wet, step in time, and Scrunch your hair up, lift and fluff. Like I said, were easily amused.
We ducked through a gift shop on the way out of the park where we discovered that the clever marketing folks at Disney have added more Disney-exclusive Mr. Potato Head parts such as a park hopper pass, Goofy ears, Mickey and Minnie bride and groom ears, a car from Buzz Lightyears Space Ranger Spin, and the laser gun from the same ride. Sadly, we knew we would probably be sucked into buying all of these before the trip was over.
We decided to take the boat back to the Boardwalk so we got in the rather long line waiting at the dock. A boat quickly pulled in but we were too far back in line to make it on the first boat. We did, however, make it under the awning and out of the rain to wait for the next boat. We made it on the second boat, which was standing room only. We rode as far as the Swolphin where, since we were both getting woozy from the smell of all the plastic rain ponchos inside the confines of the boat by this time, we got off and walked the rest of the way to the Boardwalk.
On the short walk to the Boardwalk Paula came up with even more lyrics in our continuing saga to corrupt Step in Time. She had inadvertently worn different sandals from the ones she usually brings with her to WDW. The different sandals had already rubbed blisters on her feet, causing her to begin to limp. This reminded us of a trip that she and I (and her husband Wes) had taken to Disneyland a few years ago. We had been in the parks all day long without a break and, as we plodded out at closing time, we noticed that we all had developed our own distinctive limp. Paula had remarked that we looked like extras from the Planet of the Apes. So, since Paula was lurching along this evening, we quickly added Planet of the Apes walk, step in time to our growing repertoire.
Back on the Boardwalk, we looked through the gift shop and made a few purchases while we dried off slightly before going to order our corn dogs (one corn dog, one corn dog basketwhich comes with fries and a drinkand another drink for me for $14.99). While they cooked our food we went into Seashore Sweets to look around.
Disneys newest marketing ploy seems to be the genius that is drum roll please The Sugar Bar. Inside almost every shop we went into was this kiosk which dispenses almost every color imaginable of what is basically sugar. Well, okay, so its colored and flavored sugar, but its still sugar. (Remember Pixie Stix? Or sherbet dabs for our British readers (all three of you)? Same exact thing. Its a giant pixie stix machine where you can mix and match your own colors and flavorsor just put your head under the spout and dispense it straight into your mouth if youre needing a quick pick-me-up!) Just what little Johnny and Susie needa straight shot of sugar.
By the time we were finished watching all the poor parents trying to scrape their kids off the ceiling after having partaken of the Sugar Bar, our corn dogs were ready. We grabbed a table by the water and enjoyed the beautiful evening (the rain had stopped for now) while we watched the lightning in the distance and ate. Paula took a bite of a french fry which was still piping hot and yelped in pain so, of course, I stupidly had to try one. I quickly agreed that they were, indeed, hot molten french fries, which actually comes out more like Ot Olten Inch Eyes when you try to talk when your mouth is burning.
Our meal was not entirely without its educational benefits as we learned (from reading the signs on the corn dog booth) that the average American consumes 80 hot dogs per year and that Chicago sells the most hot dogs per capital of any other location.
After we finished eating we found our way back to the room with no further incidents. I called our mother to let her know we had made it to WDW, and Paula tried to call her husband but couldnt reach him. Being very tired after only two hours of sleep the night before, we watched Disney cartoons and updated our trip report notes. Paula went to bed around 10:30 and I followed around 12:30.
CAST
Robin/Me - 40; trip planner/recorded; 11th trip to WDW
Paula/Sister to Robin - 30; 5th trip to WDW
Id be screaming like a girl at an Aaron Carter concert. Or, How I Won a Wet T-Shirt Contest
The Plan: flight to Orlando; check in at BWI; MGM
I was up at 5:00 to finish packing and get ready. Paula and Wes, her husband, got to the house at 6:40, and Wes obligingly took us to the airport. For the first time ever since the beginning of recorded flight at Kitty Hawk, both Paula and I made it through airport security without have to be wanded, scanned, swabbed, body-cavity searched, sniffed by bomb-detecting dogs, or any other more embarrassing forms of airport torture that the FAA has come up with. Generally, Paula is the one singled out for airport humiliation, although Ive had my share of scrutiny lately.
I picked up a couple of magazines at the airport gift shop to occupy our time on the long flight from Albuquerque to Orlando. The flight to Albuquerque was quick and we had a couple of hours to kill before our next flight, so we walked all over the airport. The find of the day was what can only be described as a magnetic Liberace glitter acrylic bottle cap. Baffling, I know, but thats the gist of it. And actually, they werent limited solely to Liberace. They were metal bottle caps (like off a bottle of coke) which an artist (and Im using that term very loosely now) had painted and then applied a magnet to the back of. On the inside of the bottle cap was a tiny picture of, say, Liberace, for example, which the artist had decorated with glitter and little confetti stars and hearts and then filled with clear acrylic so that the picture was protected for all eternity (thank goodness, because Im fairly certain some of these objects dart were priceless).
Now if these works of art had all been Liberace, why that in and of itself would be stellar, but the beauty of the collection was in the sheer randomness of the artists subjects. There was Marilyn Monroe, Rudy Giuliani, Ed Norton, Santa Claus, Little LuLu, Garth Brooks, the Jolly Green Giant, and various and assorted religious icons and saints, one of which, Im almost positive, was Saint Hubbins, the patron saint of sensible footwear. One can only imagine how Paula and I are having to live with the agonizing regret that we did not purchase any of these fine items.
After we marveled over the bottle caps, we grabbed a sandwich and coke each at Quiznos for the low, low bargain price of only $13.29. Theres nothing like airport food to get you mentally prepared for Disney prices.
When it was finally time to line up for our flight, we struck up a conversation with an older woman who was standing in line next to us. She asked if we were going to WDW and if it was our first time. We explained that we had been several times before, and then came the proverbial question. Whats the attraction? she asked. *Sigh* Some people just dont get it.
The flight from Albuquerque to Orlando was very long, but we arrived on time at 3:40. We enjoyed our first monorail ride of the trip and made our way to the luggage carousel. Our suitcases were easy to spot since Paula has Winnie the Pooh tapestry luggage and I have the tan and brown Mickey Mouse suitcases--much better than the standard issue black.
The Emerald Aisle at National was fairly full of cars. There were several SUVs again this trip, but Paulas eye fell on a bright red PT Cruiser, so we took it. It was a nice little car with plenty of room for our luggage.
On the drive to WDW property, I asked Paula what her decision was about Its A Small World. She admitted that it would probably be more hassle than it was worth to get to the MK, on a Grad Night, for one ride, so she bravely said that she could forego riding it this trip. I think Paula has made it to that milestone that those of us who are fortunate enough to come to WDW on a regular basis finally reach where, while we would like to be able to do certain things, we realize that its not the end of the world if we miss a few things here and there because well be back.
We made it to the Boardwalk by 4:30 and pulled into valet to unload our luggage. I left the keys in the car for the valet and Paula and I both got out of the car. The valet CM unloaded our luggage for us and shut the hatch back. At the same time, another valet shut the driver-side door of the car. Wouldnt you know, the car locked automatically with the keys still in the ignition. We tried the hatch back, the drivers door, and the front passenger door, to no avail. We could also see the extra key to the car, sitting in the console inside the locked Cruiser. Joy.
Interestingly enough, we werent the only car in front of the Boardwalk which had the keys locked in it--there was another car as well. As we debated what to do, the valet CM tried the passenger-side *back* door and, fortunately, it was unlocked. The first thing I did was to get the spare key and put it in my purse to avoid this happening again.
There was no line to speak of at check in and we were quickly registered and assigned room 1348 by CM Joe. Joe called bell services for us and had our luggage sent to our room, then he gave us some rather vague directions on how to get to the room while he circled vast expanses of the resort on the map. When he was done with the map of the resort it looked rather like one of John Maddens plays on Monday Night Football with lots of Xs and Os and wiggly lines, but we werent concerned because, after all, how hard could it be to find a room in a hotel, right?
Well, twenty minutes later, Paula and I were still wandering the halls in search of the elusive room 1348. We had a lovely tour of the convention center and had found our way out onto the Boardwalk two or three times, but couldnt find our room to save our lives. The directions we got from Joe were becoming more and more vague all the time. What did he say to do after we got off the elevator? I asked Paula, Nip up the wickershams?
Yes, Paula replied. Then I think he said to pop round the gorn and scumbles. Well, we might have been lost, but at least we still had our senses of humor, or perhaps we were just a bit simpled out from wandering the halls for so long. We finally ran into a bellman with our luggage, coming off the elevator. He had been to the room, apparently finding it with no problems, and was on his way back to the lobby since we werent there. Thats our luggage! I cried; glad to see anything familiar at this point. We confessed to the CM that we couldnt find our room and he nicely took us to it.
Our room was great--it was a corner room, so it was larger than most. Our patio looked out onto the quiet pool and a nice fountain. The bathroom was huge and had a small chest of drawers in the sink area, which was very handy. We didnt want to waste time looking around the room, however, when there were rides waiting to be ridden, so we quickly changed into shorts and headed out to MGM.
Youll be pleased to know that we couldnt find our way out either, but on our wanderings we saw the cottage rooms with their own private gardens that I had heard so much about. They were very pretty. Eventually, after several dead ends, a few elevator rides, much backtracking, and a trail of breadcrumbs, we made it out onto the Boardwalk.
The only drawback I can see to staying at the Boardwalk is that youve got that Under the Boardwalk song constantly running through your head while youre there. Not that I have anything against the song, its just that it gets a little old after about the 500th time youve sang it, in one day.
There wasnt a boat in sight when we exited onto the boardwalk so we took the walkway to MGM, which was very pleasant. Along the way we saw a momma duck with her baby ducks and a rabbit or two. The weather was lovely, for now anyway, and I asked Paula if I had mentioned to her today how much I love being at WDW.
We were soon at MGM and into our first park of the trip. Of course we immediately headed to the Tower of Terror (ToT). Paula got in line for ToT while I went to get Fast Passes (FP) for the Rock n Rollercoaster (RnRC). The RnRC was out of FPs for the day, so I checked at the Fast Pass machines for the ToT, but they were closed as well, so I joined Paula in line for the ToT. The stand by wait time was posted at 30 minutes but the line didnt look that bad to us, plus we had our hearts set on riding.
We were surprised at the number of high school kids that were in the park tonight. We had expected the MK to be overflowing with them, but really didnt expect the Grad Nights to effect the other parks. Also, it was a Saturday night, and Im sure that had something to do with it as well.
There was a most annoying couple in line behind us as we waited for the ToT. The husband was constantly on his cell phone and the wife was talking non-stop to him (whether he was on the phone or not) about how busy their schedule was for the next few months. If anyone is interested, email me and I can give you their complete itinerary through July at least.
The best thing that we were forced to overhear, however, was when the husband was (shocker) talking on his cell phone. Apparently he needed to come up with some sort of access code so he asked the man that he was on the phone with what his favorite three-digit number was. Your favorite three-digit number? Does anyone actually *have* a favorite three-digit number? I would be hard pressed to come up with a favorite one-digit number. Luckily, we lost them in the library of the ToT.
It was also in the library where we met the nicest group of 7th grade boys from Atlanta Georgia. They had driven down for a band concert at Epcot and were going to be driving back tonight. There were about five of them in line along with an adult sponsor. They showed us the pictures they drew on the animation tour and generally kept us amused with their talk in the library and all through the line in the basement.
One of the kids asked us if we had ever tried to float a penny in the elevator shaft. I said that I had never tried it, but I had heard about doing it, so the kid dug around in his pocket and gave Paula and me each a dime (as he was out of pennies) to float in our hands on the ToT. We balked at the idea of taking his dimes, but he insisted saying that we had to try it. Sure enough, you can float a coin on the drops, which is a pretty neat effect. We did catch up with the boy after the ride was over and give him his dimes back.
We went to Rock n Rollercoaster next. There were some newlyweds in line ahead of us and a CM pulled them out of line, made them kiss in front of everyone, and then let them go to the front of the line.
While we were waiting, Paula began to feel faint. We decided that it was probably because the last food we had eaten was about ten hours earlier so I promised her we could get something to eat after the ride. (Im not heartless, I said we could get out of line and get something to eat now, but Paula said she could make it until after the ride.)
The delightful boys from the ToT were behind us at RnRC also and we talked to them some more, comparing notes on where to sit for the best ride. They told us the very back was the best and, while I have ridden in the very front of the limo, I havent ever been in the last seat, so Ill have to take their word for it.
Once we got into the recording studio, one of the boys said that he wished it really was Steven Tyler in the studio and not just a film of him. If so, then hed be screaming like a girl at an Aaron Carter concert, which I thought was a vivid comparison. Im sure Steve would be pleased to know that theyre still appreciated by the younger generation.
I had never noticed before how many Lava Lamps they have in the recording studio. I wonder if Aerosmith is really into Lava Lamps or if someone in the prop department just got a good deal on them in bulk.
After our ride it was after 8:00, so I suggested that we go find some seats for Fantasmic and maybe grab a pretzel and something to drink (we didnt want to get too much to eat because we both had our hearts set on one of the corn dogs that they sell on the Boardwalk). We stopped at the entrance to the amphitheater to get a pretzel to share and some water. Once inside we found out that it was standing room only. We went over to the SRO section and found a space on the concrete risers to sit while we waited.
While we were waiting, the clouds that had been threatening all evening opened up and it began to rain. Not daunted by a little wetness, we waited until some of the wimpier guests departed and then we grabbed some seats in the bleachers. The announcement was made that the start of Fantasmic would be delayed due to the weather and then finally another announcement was made that the show would be canceled. We found out later that this was the third night in a row that they hadnt been able to have the show due to the lightning and rain.
We waited for the crowd to clear a little and then slogged out in the rain. Of course, Paulas umbrella and my poncho were both safe and dry back in our room, so we were very wet by this time. Somehow, being wet at Disney is a lot more fun than being wet at home, so, while we walked out of the park, Paula and I amused ourselves (not hard to do) by coming up with alternate lyrics for one of the most annoying songs in the Disney catalog, Step in Time. Thus, instead of the usual maddening Flap like a birdie, step in time, or the equally inane Link your elbows, step in time, (I know, youre frightened that I know so many of the lyrics to the song. Believe me, so am I) we came up with such enduring classics like Gee my butts wet, step in time, and Scrunch your hair up, lift and fluff. Like I said, were easily amused.
We ducked through a gift shop on the way out of the park where we discovered that the clever marketing folks at Disney have added more Disney-exclusive Mr. Potato Head parts such as a park hopper pass, Goofy ears, Mickey and Minnie bride and groom ears, a car from Buzz Lightyears Space Ranger Spin, and the laser gun from the same ride. Sadly, we knew we would probably be sucked into buying all of these before the trip was over.
We decided to take the boat back to the Boardwalk so we got in the rather long line waiting at the dock. A boat quickly pulled in but we were too far back in line to make it on the first boat. We did, however, make it under the awning and out of the rain to wait for the next boat. We made it on the second boat, which was standing room only. We rode as far as the Swolphin where, since we were both getting woozy from the smell of all the plastic rain ponchos inside the confines of the boat by this time, we got off and walked the rest of the way to the Boardwalk.
On the short walk to the Boardwalk Paula came up with even more lyrics in our continuing saga to corrupt Step in Time. She had inadvertently worn different sandals from the ones she usually brings with her to WDW. The different sandals had already rubbed blisters on her feet, causing her to begin to limp. This reminded us of a trip that she and I (and her husband Wes) had taken to Disneyland a few years ago. We had been in the parks all day long without a break and, as we plodded out at closing time, we noticed that we all had developed our own distinctive limp. Paula had remarked that we looked like extras from the Planet of the Apes. So, since Paula was lurching along this evening, we quickly added Planet of the Apes walk, step in time to our growing repertoire.
Back on the Boardwalk, we looked through the gift shop and made a few purchases while we dried off slightly before going to order our corn dogs (one corn dog, one corn dog basketwhich comes with fries and a drinkand another drink for me for $14.99). While they cooked our food we went into Seashore Sweets to look around.
Disneys newest marketing ploy seems to be the genius that is drum roll please The Sugar Bar. Inside almost every shop we went into was this kiosk which dispenses almost every color imaginable of what is basically sugar. Well, okay, so its colored and flavored sugar, but its still sugar. (Remember Pixie Stix? Or sherbet dabs for our British readers (all three of you)? Same exact thing. Its a giant pixie stix machine where you can mix and match your own colors and flavorsor just put your head under the spout and dispense it straight into your mouth if youre needing a quick pick-me-up!) Just what little Johnny and Susie needa straight shot of sugar.
By the time we were finished watching all the poor parents trying to scrape their kids off the ceiling after having partaken of the Sugar Bar, our corn dogs were ready. We grabbed a table by the water and enjoyed the beautiful evening (the rain had stopped for now) while we watched the lightning in the distance and ate. Paula took a bite of a french fry which was still piping hot and yelped in pain so, of course, I stupidly had to try one. I quickly agreed that they were, indeed, hot molten french fries, which actually comes out more like Ot Olten Inch Eyes when you try to talk when your mouth is burning.
Our meal was not entirely without its educational benefits as we learned (from reading the signs on the corn dog booth) that the average American consumes 80 hot dogs per year and that Chicago sells the most hot dogs per capital of any other location.
After we finished eating we found our way back to the room with no further incidents. I called our mother to let her know we had made it to WDW, and Paula tried to call her husband but couldnt reach him. Being very tired after only two hours of sleep the night before, we watched Disney cartoons and updated our trip report notes. Paula went to bed around 10:30 and I followed around 12:30.
Very funny and extremely detailed too! 
Ha ha ha ha haaaaaaaaaa!
