The "I Didn't Get To That" But Still The Best Trip Ever! **Final Thoughts 1/27/09**

[scottny]

great update and pics.

2 weeks and i go solo. I think I might go over and try some tonga toast. never had it before.

 

[lazydoxy66]

You look so cute with all the characters. The pictures of TSM are awesome. Too bad it broke down. I didn't get to see any of the fireworks. Maybe next year. Guess it was worth the wait, right??

 

[PrincessV]

I was aimlessly wondering, looking at all the purdy Poly stuff, when a lady comes up to me and says “Kat?” . It was a DISer! kimisabella to be exact! We chatted for a bit and I met her DH and 2 girls (who were cuties BTW)... Yep I remembered a pic!

Woo hoo, WTG!

I darted in and out of shops and made my way to (as Lessa put it) the “secret back way” into the Animation Studio

Okay, I need details! I'm clueless when it comes to MGM.

I went towards the GMR and hopped on the line. There was a wait but it moved fairly quickly. I know a lot of people don’t care for this ride, and I get it but there is something about it I love.

I might not go so far as to say "love" but I like GMR too! I miss it; Leo won't ride.

 

[askelton]

It was really beautiful; inside, I was awed when I walked in! Maybe if I come back down you and I can head there for lunch!?

And TSM!

No photos again, I'll be back to comment when they show up

I love it but I think I like it better from kona because it comes with strawberry sauce but that also means its like $3 more than at CC's.

Strawberry sauce, yummmm.

I was in the very front row, next to the driver. When the gangster got in the car he sat down next to me and said “How you doin??” I cracked up !

Reminded you of home?

Hunger was starting to kick in again so I decided to have some early dinner at Earl of Sandwich. I love this place and every time we try and go there is a huge line, this time I waltz right in with no problem.

Last time I tried, the line was forever!

There was a lovely British lady alone there as well. Her hubby was back in their room resting, so we chatted for a bit and wished off the rain while we waited.

My grandfather would talk to anyone anywhere, and when I was younger, I was mortified, but now I find myself doing the same thing.

 

[englishrose47]

Hi Kat !!

 

[cmp1111]

On the way out , by the elevator on the 4th floor I took some pics… foggy ones but pretty neat ones if you ask me.

Those ARE cool.

Yep I remembered a pic!

Amazing! And it's a great picture!

This, my friend, is a wicked cool picture.

I was bummed. I only waited about 15 minutes on the queue but I really wanted to ride! There was always the rest of the week.

Oh, no!

I skipped the meet & greet with Caspian, BTW.

Yes, but Lessa & I both saw hotties.

Great updates and pictures! Love it!

 

[PrincessAlways]

Great update! I've had both CMs on GMR, but never realized it was 2 versions. I just thought they changed periodically. Who knew??

 

[KatGarcia]

7am wake up call.

I look out the now undecorated window of my room and what do I see?

Not much It was raining so much it was nearly impossible to see! Oh Joy MORE RAIN.

I didn’t know exactly what I felt like doing, being wet seemed so unappealing. I got showered and ready and tried to come up with something, all I could think of was food. SO I left all my stuff packed and ready for check out, in the room and headed out in search of some grub. I found it in the way of an adult breakfast platter. Again, the human leftover machine would have shared this with me but I pretty much ate it all myself. Yum. I also made myself some chai tea with the hot water and my own tea bag (thank you WalMart!). Caffeine at last!

When I got back to the room my little envelope wasn’t on the door still and I called to see why. No one knew but they sent a CM over to give it to me. After about 15 minutes there was a knock at the door and my envelope was in my hands. I knew what was on it but needed to double check anyway, and I save everything until I get home to check against the credit card statements.

So where was I going after check out?? Not home, nope, I was going to be meeting up with fellow DISer LurrrvTheDuck (Z from now on) and her friend Yani. She told me they wouldn’t be arriving until around 3pm so I figured I’d go into a park for a while, leave my stuff at Pop and they would pick me up there. That was the original plan…take note.

So with hours to kill what did I do next? I went back to sleep! It was just too rainy. I slept until about 11:15 or so (I set the alarm on my phone) and got ready to officially check out of Pop and figure out what to do with myself for the next 3 hours.

Then I decided waiting at Pop would stink because it didn’t have enough comphy places to chill out, so I hopped in a cab and paid the overpriced fare to my next home away from home, POR. It was only I think $10 which is bad but dealable. It was the easiest way to get there. My cab driver was hysterical too, he was obsessed with the fact that I'm from NY and don't own a car. It was at least an amusing ride over.

I didn’t know If I was able to check us in but decided to try, and I found a super nice CM who told me as long as I had the info on the room and my name was on it (I had it and it was) I was golden. He even got me out of line quicker by sending me to the concierge desk to check in! In no time flat I was checked in and we got our building request! BUT our room wasn’t ready, which was fine with me, at least we were checked in and all was good.

I checked my bags at luggage services and text-ed Z to tell her the good news. Turned out they were running late anyways and hadn’t left yet (it was about noonish I think) so it was lucky for me I checked in already!

The rain had slowed (can’t ever say stopped because as soon as you thought that it rained again) so I headed to the only park I hadn’t been to yet…

All I wanted to do was go on EE, so I headed that way first…and then the smells got to me… and I realized it had been about 5 hours since my last meal…and I gave in and got me some grub! Where did I go? Flame Tree BBQ! I LOVE this place and hadn’t been there in a while!

I had the half slab of St. Louis ribs, corn bread and beans. I also got a water since I left my bottle in my packed bags. And as pictured I had it with some blueberry crystal light.

Oh man this is one of my fav CS places!!! Yum. So when I took out my camera to take a picture of my food the couple sitting next to me made a comment to each other that I took a pic of my food. I was thinking that I was gonna have to say something snippy because they were going to tease me, but turns out they were DISers too! They only noticed because they had been doing the food porn pics too! I didn’t get a screen name, but they said they were new to the boards anyway. We chatted a bit while we ate and they headed to KS.

I had a date with the yeti a few days coming so that’s where I went. I like to walk what I call “the back way” because AK is the only park I use a map for anymore because it confuses me easily. I went the way that goes past this:

That’s another thing I “didn’t get to this trip” BTW. I had just missed the 1 something show. Stupid lunch.

But this I did get to:

So this was my first single rider experience and holy cow I wish I was alone all the time…I walked on the line and was in a car in 5 minutes- I kid you not! I was seated next to some guy who had never been before. He kept asking me questions and talking the whole way up the mountain. Inside my head I was like “Buddy **** the F up” but I felt bad for him too, he was obviously nervous. Once the ride started I ignored him and screamed like the girl I am. This ride is scary and awesome at the same time. I am a wimp and hate thrill rides, except when I am in WDW! I red necked the pic but left the flash on, my bad. I was screaming and smiling that I can assure you of! The guy followed me all the way outside the ride but I quickly scurried away so I didn’t have to be polite anymore. I'm not a NYer at all!!! I considered going on again but wanted to try my luck elsewhere.

I did take some more pics around EE tho…

http://inlinethumb19.webshots.com/18258
/2290361050070748021S600x600Q85.jpg

This is where I am pretty sure I ran into Tracy (Disneyland_Mama) but I was too spaced out to stop her, besides it was a in a blur I thought I saw the TFW lanyard. I’m kinda mad at myself for it, but oh well. Sorry T.

More pics on my way to Africa.

The safari had I think a 20 minute wait so I decided to go for it, as it’s my other fav thing at AK. I got to listen to some funny people speculate what this ride was. I dunno why people go on something they don’t know. To each his own I suppose. In no time at all we were on the ride. I know everyone takes pics of the safari, I tried to take a few different ones, and we had some fun stuff happen because you know “it’s never the same twice”.

Then this happened…we got stopped for a few minutes because these guys had other ideas about us doing the safari. Look how close they got!!!!

This guy was pretty darn close too.

After KS I stopped on a bench to call POR to see if the room was ready. It was a bit after 3pm and Z had already text me they were super late and didn’t expect to be around till at least 5. The room was ready tho and I was ready for some relaxing and I was really excited to explore POR.

Up Next: Will Z ever show up? Will we ever eat dinner and where?

Next installment: HERE!!

 

[Goofyluver]

Love your safari pics honey.

And I want to see pics of your new resort!

Now...as for Z...

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

I think this is the same day we were in AK, can't believe we didn't run into you considering how often we had run into you the previous days.

 

[PrincessAlways]

It looked like those animals were giving you the up-close & personal hello!!

 

[Cinderelly5507]

I love your TR! I think a solo trip may be in store in my future one day!!

 

[englishrose47]

Hi Kat great update !!Safari ride is my fav at AK! I will not be on EE !!Remember heights drops and spins are all No No's for me !!!

 

[Mrs. The King]

I loved that you screamed through the ride. I think I will do that to people IRL. If they start piping up and being annoying, I will start screaming like Kat on EE


Great update.

 

[Charleston Princess]

No! No more rain!

Hurray for getting your room request at POR!

Flame Tree looks tasty! We haven't eaten there before -- maybe next time .

I am a big chicken as far as thrill rides are concerned as well -- I love Everest though -- love, love, love it!

The safari is a favorite of mine, too -- I always get nervous when the rhino is that close -- makes me wonder what would have to happen for it to charge the bus.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Ugh for more rain! But in some of the pics it looks like maybe there were patches of some sun? At least you weren't wearing your poncho!

I love, love, love the safari! I took the backstage tour in '06 and it was amazing!!

I can't say the same for EE. Well I've never been on. I'm too scared. But I'm intrigued that you and CP say you're not thrill ride fans but you love this one. Hmmm....

Thanks for the recommendation on Flame Tree. I just may check that out!

 

[teruterubouzu]

Cool shot of Everest! I've never seen it form that angle before.

 

[englishrose47]

Morning Kat!!

 

[askelton]

EE single rider line rocks! Someone happened to put a buggie in front of the sign so they couldn't see it. No, it wasn't me!

 

[jcc0621]

Is this Thursday???? THis si the day Lessa and I were there too!