The Power of Matching T-shirts: TR is over!~ 9/20

[stagemomx3]

Hmmm I'm glad I didn't know about the CMs in HM tapping people on the shoulder before. Now I will be panicked on my next visit to HM that someone will touch me!

 

[Charleston Princess]

So I get a shoulder-tap in the dark and my mind shrieks "Someone's trying to kidnap, rape, and/or dismember you! Flee!"

Yes, I too am amazed that I am able to function normally in day-to-day life.

I don't care how cute is the CM who works the HM (fun with rhyming initialisms, huzzah!); if he jumps in my carriage to fondle my ear and whisper "ooh," he's getting an immediate deck in his southern regions and Disney is getting a nasty e-mail as soon as I'm back at a computer connected to the Internet.

Bless that beneficent CM. He didn't think we were too hipular for the three of us to fit in one row. And we did. But it was tight. Very tight. So tight that we concluded God had given us hips not for the purpose of childbearing, but instead to ensure none of us would fall out on the day when the three of us were crammed together on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

Or maybe it was a "if one goes, they all go" type of deal, because I, who sat in the middle tended to drag Melneth and Nevi with me every time I slid forward.

My favorite is the last one. It's yet another 123, and I fear that if Captain Jack tutorials are still around by the time I have a child old enough to participate in such things, I'm going to be one of Those Mothers shoving Little Progeny forward and saying "Go on, dear, go meet Captain Jack" while smiling widely to show off my professionally whitened teeth and blinking rapidly in Jack's direction. Not fluttering my eyelashes, oh no. The sun is in my eyes. Definitely the sun.

My favorite laugh-out-loud bits from your update. Also, I loved the mini-grammar lesson (which also reminded me that I needed to correct something on my last update).

Or maybe it's because I was standing in front of Cinderella's Castle in the Magic Kingdom on a bright, sunny day in Florida with my two good friends.

Ahhhh, you had a Castle Moment. I Castle moments!!!

 

[Lady Lallie]

The grammar lessons are just making me more and more paranoid, Jiri!!

Your thought process is so similar to mine that it is scary. The whole run away because someone is trying to hurt you goes through my head numerous times a day. I blame Law & Order, both SVU and Criminal Intent. I was explaining to my mother the other day how I really want to start walking in the early morning but I am too afraid that something bad will happen to me. She told me I was being ridiculous and I told her it was Law & Order's fault, she got confused.

Anyhoo, another great update. I really am loving this TR and don't want it to end. You have my permission to drag it out for as long as possible...like until it's time for you to do a PTR for LLFF'09.

 

[PrincessPeyton]

I have been lurking for awhile, but i love your writing style! You inspired me to make matching t-shirts for my trip...now i just have to get creative and come up with something catchy! Thanks for taking the time to recap your story for us!

 

[willwriteforears]

Awesome chapter.

I'm particularly partial to the photos of my favorite pirate.

Surprised?

I didn't think so.

No, I was not.

And I do regret that they all came out so fuzzy. Should've staked out my spot early on, I guess, and "not noticed" the shorter kiddos who tried to get in front of me.

And I love your moment in front of the castle. And your paranoia on the Haunted Mansion. Write, girl, write a novel and put that overactive imagination in good stead!

Working on it! Sort of. Sadly, I think I'll have to cut back on DIS time to get it done.

Great update!

I'm so glad you didn't get tapped on the shoulder in the HM. I feel the same way when people tap me or get too close. Watch out!

Yep, I loves me my personal space. I guess the shoulder-tapping CMs were on break, because I don't think anyone in our elevator-group got tapped.

I'm trying to figure out where your animatronic naptime took place. Hall of Presidents? Carousel of Progress? Country Bear Jamboree? In the Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki room?

Time will tell.

Hmmm I'm glad I didn't know about the CMs in HM tapping people on the shoulder before. Now I will be panicked on my next visit to HM that someone will touch me!

They do like to come from the corners and back of the room (easier to be stealthy), so if you're in the middle, you should be okay.

My favorite laugh-out-loud bits from your update. Also, I loved the mini-grammar lesson (which also reminded me that I needed to correct something on my last update).

Thanks! I'm sure if I reread my posts I'd catch all sorts of little things that slipped through. Ugh.

Ahhhh, you had a Castle Moment. I Castle moments!!!

Me too.

The grammar lessons are just making me more and more paranoid, Jiri!!

Sign I saw Friday night for a convenience store: "Grocerie's." I don't understand how the apostrophe migrated into that, since the singular of "groceries" is "grocery." So with the disappearance of the y and the inclusion of the ies, there's no rule that could be mistaken for the necessity of an apostrophe.

But I'm not critical of DISers like I am of random signage.

Your thought process is so similar to mine that it is scary. The whole run away because someone is trying to hurt you goes through my head numerous times a day. I blame Law & Order, both SVU and Criminal Intent. I was explaining to my mother the other day how I really want to start walking in the early morning but I am too afraid that something bad will happen to me. She told me I was being ridiculous and I told her it was Law & Order's fault, she got confused.

Hmm, I don't have issues being out in daylight. I do avoid walking around by myself when it's dark out, but I feel pretty safe when the sun is out and I can be reasonably sure that strange people shouldn't be tapping my shoulder.

Anyhoo, another great update. I really am loving this TR and don't want it to end. You have my permission to drag it out for as long as possible...like until it's time for you to do a PTR for LLFF'09.

Actually, I've calculated that it should end, if my guesstimates are correct, in late September, which actually makes me happy because that would leave me a month to prepare for NaNoWriMo in November.

Sorry. It's cycling back to what TK said about writing a novel.

I have been lurking for awhile, but i love your writing style! You inspired me to make matching t-shirts for my trip...now i just have to get creative and come up with something catchy! Thanks for taking the time to recap your story for us!

Hello! I'm glad you've come out of lurkdom to post! I would love to see your matching t-shirts when you have them designed!

 

[willwriteforears]

Okay, so my mild paranoia must have affected my memory of HM, because Melneth has this to say:

Quick Dis-board commentary:

Yeah right, Like I was going to ride by myself in a spooky old house! We crammed all 3 of us in the car. (I remember because the hitch-hiking ghost was riding on my lap - and he didn't weigh a thing.)

Must not have stuck in my mind since the carriages are a little roomier than BTMRR. I do remember, though, seeing two ghosts in a single rider's car, so I suppose I looked at an unknown guest, who may or may not have worried about the extra ghost becoming tangible and fondling his or her ear.

See, I said Melneth and Nevi would keep me honest.

 

[Native NYer]

Okay, so my mild paranoia must have affected my memory of HM, because Melneth has this to say:


Must not have stuck in my mind since the carriages are a little roomier than BTMRR. I do remember, though, seeing two ghosts in a single rider's car, so I suppose I looked at an unknown guest, who may or may not have worried about the extra ghost becoming tangible and fondling his or her ear.

See, I said Melneth and Nevi would keep me honest.

The hitchhiking ghosts are my favorite. I've had a couple on my lap too!

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

From the looks of it (and what I've read/seen here on the DIS), you got the "good" Jack.

I'm going to be one of Those Mothers shoving Little Progeny forward and saying "Go on, dear, go meet Captain Jack" while smiling widely to show off my professionally whitened teeth and blinking rapidly in Jack's direction. Not fluttering my eyelashes, oh no. The sun is in my eyes. Definitely the sun.

The sun.
Right.
Of course it's the sun.
Always the sun.
I'll use the same excuse.
I'm not sure how I'm going to explain away the gag and shackles though.
Hm.
The Dole Whip.
It's always the Dole Whip.

Or maybe it's because I knew I was going to put cheesy hairy-eyebrows-large-glasses-big-nose-with-mustache stickers on my friends' faces, and that amused me.

Or maybe it's because I was wearing my Matching T-shirt and felt powerful.

Or maybe it's because I was standing in front of Cinderella's Castle in the Magic Kingdom on a bright, sunny day in Florida with my two good friends.

Or maybe it's because that girl in the background is getting all Jennifer Beal/Flashdance with her shirt.

 

[PrincessV]

Firstly, an apology: I'm TWO updates behind.

We will not spend much time discussing Buzz since this my TR, not Nevi’s or Melneth’s, and I didn’t score above a Space Cadet. Moving on.

Pssst... shoot the volcanos. Trust V.

(BTW, my editor-self despises that “it’s a small world” is all lowercase. One capitalizes proper nouns, and “it’s a small world” is a proper noun. Just what’s the deal with the lowercase? To emphasize that it is, indeed, a small world? Bah! No world is so small that there is no room for CAPITALS!)

OMG, don't even get me started!!!!! I flat-out refuse to spell it in all lowercase. It's just not right.

Since I haven't mentioned it in this post, I'll just say again that The Unofficial Guide's Touring Plans rock.

My favorite is the last one. It's yet another 123, and I fear that if Captain Jack tutorials are still around by the time I have a child old enough to participate in such things, I'm going to be one of Those Mothers shoving Little Progeny forward and saying "Go on, dear, go meet Captain Jack" while smiling widely to show off my professionally whitened teeth and blinking rapidly in Jack's direction.

And I'll counter with another of those, "Of course, you could wind up with a Leo and NO Pirate Tutorial!"

It was a bright, sunny day in the Magic Kingdom, and I stood in front of Cindy's Castle with my two of my favorite people in the world. It was a good day.

 

[If U Had Wings]

How impressed am I that 3 of you fit in one car on the railroad? Good thing your all good friends.

 

[willwriteforears]

The hitchhiking ghosts are my favorite. I've had a couple on my lap too!

I have to admit that I like the ballroom and graveyard scenes. I would love to be able to just spend fifteen minutes in each of those admiring all the details.

From the looks of it (and what I've read/seen here on the DIS), you got the "good" Jack.

Jack makes a reappearance during the PPP. But I'm not sure he was the "good" Jack.

At least I got him once.

The sun.
Right.
Of course it's the sun.
Always the sun.
I'll use the same excuse.
I'm not sure how I'm going to explain away the gag and shackles though.
Hm.
The Dole Whip.
It's always the Dole Whip.

"The Dole Whip made me do it!"

Or maybe it's because that girl in the background is getting all Jennifer Beal/Flashdance with her shirt.

Yes, I'm hoping I'll be able to photoshop her out.

Firstly, an apology: I'm TWO updates behind.

No problem!

Pssst... shoot the volcanos. Trust V.

Hold on, lemme write that down. "Trust... V.... Shoot ... the ... volcanoes."

And I'll counter with another of those, "Of course, you could wind up with a Leo and NO Pirate Tutorial!"

[/QUOTE]



Maybe I'll have to follow the TK plan and play Pirates music in the car to instill a proper love of Jack Sparrow.

How impressed am I that 3 of you fit in one car on the railroad? Good thing your all good friends.

I agree!

 

[Lady Lallie]

I have to admit that I like the ballroom and graveyard scenes. I would love to be able to just spend fifteen minutes in each of those admiring all the details.

Well maybe someday if you are lucky the ride will stop in one of those rooms either from a ride malfunction or the loading process.

Jack makes a reappearance during the PPP. But I'm not sure he was the "good" Jack.

At least I got him once.

Why don't I remember you mentioning the PPP before? Hmmm.

Maybe I'll have to follow the TK plan and play Pirates music in the car to instill a proper love of Jack Sparrow.

Heck don't wait that long, start playing it while you are pregnant!

 

[poohluv2u]

And I'm sure photo-me would look even happier if I can figure out how to photoshop Miss Bra Strap out of the picture.

I am thoroughly amused by your TR, that I just can't help smiling. Love your writing style

All that is needed is a little cropping .. so much easier than trying to photoshop Miss Bra Strap out

 

[willwriteforears]

Well maybe someday if you are lucky the ride will stop in one of those rooms either from a ride malfunction or the loading process.

At which point I'm sure all thoughts of spending extra time in either one of those rooms will fly out of my head and I'll fume at the hold-up.

Why don't I remember you mentioning the PPP before? Hmmm.

I think I may've in one of the comments, but I'm too lazy to go looking for it. In any case, we attended the PPP. That'll be started on Saturday, I believe.

I am thoroughly amused by your TR, that I just can't help smiling. Love your writing style

Thank you!

All that is needed is a little cropping .. so much easier than trying to photoshop Miss Bra Strap out

Thanks! I'm not sure if she was just to enervated by the heat to pull her tank up or what, or if she was trolling for a may-un and thought that'd be the way to go about it.

 

[willwriteforears]

Having eaten at Cosmic Rays and had our picture taken in front of Cindy's Castle, we decided it was time to skip attractions that would be open during the Pirate and Princess Party, since we were attending that night and there'd be lower crowds.

We made our way to the Tiki Tiki Room--Under New Management. I know a lot of people hate it, but I didn't.

'Course, I didn't particularly like it, either. I anticipate that during future trips, it'd be something I'd go to if it's nearby and I want air conditioning and feel like I can handle the grating of Iago's voice. But no, it was not a port of animatronic naptime, as the title of this post promises.

We skipped Country Bears since it was supposedly going to be open during the PPP.*

Besides, at that point it was about time for the Dreams Come True Parade. I'd been on the DIS boards for not quite a month when we left for our trip, but that was time enough to read about Dole Whips, and I had dutifully informed Melneth and Nevi that we had to have them. Watching the parade with Dole Whips in hand struck us all as a very good idea, so we went to Aloha Isle to get our pineappley goodness.

Only I like pineapple, but I don't love it. So while Melneth got the Dole Whip Float and Nevi got an all-pineapple DW, I elected for a vanilla twist.

The CM gave me a short DW. Melneth's was taller. Of course, hers was supposed to be, since she had a float. But Nevi's was taller, too. Because I do have that kind of paranoia, I immediately wondered if the CM was trying to tell me I didn't need the calories. Then I wondered if I was being "disciplined" for my desire to cut the pineapple taste a little. "What? A Dole Whip swirl? How could you deny yourself the unadulterated taste sensation that is the Dole Whip? Well, I'll show you!"

Then it was time to get to the parade, so I quit wondering and trotted after Nevi and Melneth.

We parked ourselves on Main Street, in the pretty-much-nonexistant shade of a storefront, to wait for the parade to start. Perhaps six feet away from our sliver of shade were these movable block things. We'd been walking all day. We were tired. Nevi was in problem-solving mode and moved one of the block-things over to our shade sliver. She'd barely started to sit upon it before Cast Member Nancy pounced.

"Excuse me! For safety reasons, you cannot move those blocks! Please put it back where you found it!"

Which, of course, is Cast Member speak for "Excuse me! There is nothing hazardous whatsoever about moving those blocks six feet away from their previous location, but if you do it, then other guests will want to do it, resulting in catastrophic anarchy the likes of which a veritable horde of CMs would be unable to quell! So please return the block to its old location posthaste, before you bring about Armageddon!"

Nevi complied, thereby averting the end of the world--or World, as it were.

But it would've made for a funny story if she hadn't.

So we stood in our non-shade, and, the Apocalypse having been thwarted for another day, I returned my attention to my Dole Whip.

In addition to being short, it was more vanilla than pineapple. As in, I could barely taste the pineapple. In a Dole Whip. Which we all know is supposed to be full of pineappley goodness. Disappointment.

Nevi took pity on me and gave me a bit of hers. My Dole Whip took on vaguely citrus tones.

Nevi and I finished our DWs before the parade began. Melneth still had a bit of her float left, but since she wasn't the one taking pictures, and she could free up a hand to wave (since, having been in the AK parade, we learned how discouraging it can be when people don't) that was all right.

Eeyore! I had to get him since he's Nevi's favorite. But of course waving at him was not the same as a meet 'n' greet. We'd learned that we could see Eeyore at Epcot and planned to fit that in on Monday, when we'd go back.

I didn't start humming the Cruella DeVil song, but I was tempted.

I also had to get a picture of Robin Hood, since he and Maid Marian are Melneth's favorites.

I have tried to figure out why Pluto is fondling his ear in this photo. Maybe he was reenacting the spook house scene from Amelie without the benefit of Amelie.

Have I ever mentioned that direct sunlight makes me sleepy? Seriously, driving home some afternoons in the glaring sunlight, my eyes have drooped. Dangerously. As in "good thing the Interstate is mostly a straight stretch, or you'd could've driven off the road a time or two." And as in "You stupid idiot! The interstate is speed limit is 75 mph! Open your eyes before you kill yourself or someone else!"

I listen to the latter voice. It may denigrate me, but I think it also keeps me alive.

So sunlight makes me sleepy, and our spot of non-shade hadn't been sufficient to keep me cool. Next up was the Hall of Presidents. Featuring air conditioning. And the soothing tones of Abraham Lincoln.

You guessed it: Animatronic naptime. I think I heard a bit of whatever George Washington said. Then a pleasant drone until Clinton waved and Dubya had his speech. Repeated heavy blinking during Lincoln's inspiring words.

I did clap.

And I would like to visit Hall of Presidents when I'm feeling less somnambulant. A word I use because I'm not sure there is one for "sitting or having the habit of sitting while asleep."

Next up in Animatronic Naptime was The Carousel of Progress. Among the guests was a woman having her 30th birthday and celebrating it by going on her favorite ride: The Carousel. I'd recently read ZZUB's first two TRs and so, during the first scene, tried to decide if the dog seemed to be looking at me or not. Considering that we sat at the opposite end of the room from it, it wasn't.

Since Carousel moves, however, I did wake up each time we moved to a new room. And I stayed awake during the last scene, marveling at the bizarreness of what I can only call "80's future." Since all the animatronics seemed to sport 80's, or maybe early 90's, styling, but there was Grandma playing the VR game with Jimmy. And oh, the hilarity of the oven catching fire! Good times are to be had in the future/pseudo present, it seems.

The three of us did agree that quite a few decades seemed to have been skipped between the penultimate and the final scenes. But then, it is kinda hard to track down progress when computers are obsolete within a matter of six months, and when new technology like HD DVD can be created and obliterated by other new technology in the course of like, a year.**

Our last stop before leaving MK to return to our hotel room to rest and get ready for the PPP was the Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor.

Lest you be wondering if this proved to be the kin of Animatronic Naptime entitled Interactive CGI Naptime, it was not. Melneth led us into our row, followed by Nevi, then me. Mike came to the stage and explained our purpose.

Seriously, if we could find a way for laughter to fuel our cities, that'd be so cool. The oil barons wouldn't stand for it, of course, and their versions of Cast Member Nancy would do their best to strike down the uprising. Alas.

Anyway, our mission before us, Boil Bradley or whatever that monster's name is came on, and after a few semi-funny jokes, the spotlight shone on Nevi and her face came up on the Giganto Screen. So did my elbow as it shoved into her side in case she had suddenly been struck blind and missed it, and my bony elbow poking into her ribcage could restore her vision.

Boil told her to think of a number between one and hundred and to say it "while he had his eyes shut" since that way "he couldn't hear it." She stated it. I have since forgotten it. Boil directed Nevi to beam the number to him. Nevi placed her hands on her forehead, kind of like moose antlers, and beamed the number at him. Boil guessed. Boil got it wrong. We laughed.

Boil seemed surprised. Boil guessed again. Boil got it wrong. We laughed.

Boil seemed further surprised. We laughed. Boil guessed again. Nevi took pity, lied, and said that Boil had guessed it (she's a softie that way).

But since the rest of us are capable of hearing even with our eyes closed, a chorus of childish voices proclaimed that Boil had gotten it wrong yet again. He was in the midst of attempting to guess again when Roz dumped him down the trap door. We laughed. We filled up the laugh meter.

And so, having averted the end of the World by replacing movable blocks and having saved Monstropolis from power-outage, we called it a day and left the MK for the TTC and thence to Pearl. For there were rests to take and costumes to don for the Pirate and Princess Party.

Up Next: Do I even have to write it?

*It wasn't, but we did later figure out why missing it entirely wouldn't have been a bad thing. Keep that in mind for late September, when I think I'll actually get around to that bit!

**Technophiles need not correct my timeline. Yes, HD DVD research development probably started more than a year ago. But you gotta admit it never reached the magic price point of $200, which I've read is the amount new technology generally needs to drop to before the average consumer will invest in it. Still waiting for that to happen to Blu Ray, myself.

And for all I know, Blu Ray will be surpassed by HD Ultraviolet Laser Thingummy before then.

 

[TCKK]

Just got caught up again. Fun reports. Sounds like a great trip so far!!

 

[stagemomx3]

80's future. I liked Carousel of Progress, but it is rather bizarre. The picture of Pluto is great!

 

[Lady Lallie]

I think I am one of the very few who enjoys the Tiki Birds. I love those silly little birds. Which is odd since I don't care for real birds. I must have a thing for fake birds.

I literally groaned out loud when I read Country Bear Jamboree. I watched it last time I went in 2005, I was very sad after watching it again. I LOVED it when I was little, I had such fond memories. My mom even had a t-shirt since she loved it so much, as an adult this makes me question her sanity but moving. :::SIGH::: Now it is ruined in my jaded adult brain.

I love Carousel of Progress. I just love it. Makes me smile.

Another great update! I am so excited to see the costumes for PPP!!

 

[Sarilas]

Mental note: Hall of Presidents = nap opportunity!

 

[willwriteforears]

Just got caught up again. Fun reports. Sounds like a great trip so far!!

It was uber-excellent.

80's future. I liked Carousel of Progress, but it is rather bizarre. The picture of Pluto is great!

COP is one I'd like to go on again when less sleepy. We picked our park days using touringplans.com's crowd calendar, but I'm thinking next time it might be best to do MK first so I'm not so tired and can pay attention to everything!

Yes, Pluto is my favorite of those parade pix!

I think I am one of the very few who enjoys the Tiki Birds. I love those silly little birds. Which is odd since I don't care for real birds. I must have a thing for fake birds.

I did stay awake for it, so that says something, I guess. But it's one attraction where I feel the "storyline" just isn't up to snuff.

I literally groaned out loud when I read Country Bear Jamboree. I watched it last time I went in 2005, I was very sad after watching it again. I LOVED it when I was little, I had such fond memories. My mom even had a t-shirt since she loved it so much, as an adult this makes me question her sanity but moving. :::SIGH::: Now it is ruined in my jaded adult brain.

If there was ever an attraction that NEEDS renovation, CBJ is it.

Mental note: Hall of Presidents = nap opportunity!

Seriously, along with COP it's one I'd like to do again when less sleepy. The details the Imagineers included on our past presidents is simply amazing--aren't they all built to scale? Anyone know for sure?--and I'd like to go back and look at things more closely.