The Side effects of the AP-Trip#6 Oct 10 Final thoughts and some TMI

[Poolrat]

You really know how to get all the fun out of a WDW day. It sounds like you were having so much fun.

I squeezed every moment out.

I did have a lot of fun, even being alone in the world. That was really my first time being able to come and go as I please with really no one else to worry about. Even though I missed my family, I did not miss the drama that goes along with it.

 

[brookelizabeth]

Woooooo hooooo! I love that you closed two parks in one day! I seriously need a solo trip sometime!!!!!

Wonderful pic of SSE and the fountain.

 

[mom3sonstt]

I squeezed every moment out.

I did have a lot of fun, even being alone in the world. That was really my first time being able to come and go as I please with really no one else to worry about. Even though I missed my family, I did not miss the drama that goes along with it.

I had a couple solo trips nearly 10 years ago - before scooters and dialysis - and it was sure nice to just do what you want....not what you think someone else wants you to do. To have a DoleWhip for lunch instead of a meal, to ride Peter Pan when the others think it's a kiddie ride.....just whatever. Glad you are making the most of yours!

 

[Poolrat]

Woooooo hooooo! I love that you closed two parks in one day! I seriously need a solo trip sometime!!!!!

Wonderful pic of SSE and the fountain.

I did close 2 parks in one day. How about that?


A solo trip was good for my soul. So much so that I did it again.

 

[Poolrat]

I had a couple solo trips nearly 10 years ago - before scooters and dialysis - and it was sure nice to just do what you want....not what you think someone else wants you to do. To have a DoleWhip for lunch instead of a meal, to ride Peter Pan when the others think it's a kiddie ride.....just whatever. Glad you are making the most of yours!

I did have fun. As my Year of the Annual Pass (YOAP) went on I found a way to have the best of both worlds, somedays to myself and some time with friends that loved Disney as much as I did.

 

[All7OfUs]

I did close 2 parks in one day. How about that?


A solo trip was good for my soul. So much so that I did it again.

THey are good for the soul!! ANd I need to do it again too. Let's go together!

 

[Poolrat]

THey are good for the soul!! ANd I need to do it again too. Let's go together!

A 5k and girls trip. I'm in.

 

[Poolrat]

Saturday Oct 24th 2009
After another restful night of sleep, I woke up to a beautiful Saturday morning. We wrapped up the conference yesterday and today’s activity was a goodbye party. Sometimes this is a brunch, but usually we are invited to play. With Waterparks as our jobs we often don’t get to play at work but we all want to. The WWA works hard to entertain us and when we are at Disney it is easy. We are headed to Blizzard Beach for a catered lunch but best of all an all day ticket to play.

I am up and out the door a little after 9 am. The busses literally only have to take us across the street. Busses are not picking us up until about 9:30-9:45am so I have some time to kill.
Are you ready for another walk around the Coronado? I hope so.
The quiet pool at the casitas. If you look carefully you can see the lone swimmer in the pool. I would bet money this is one of our convention”ears”.

From another angle

Walking toward casitas 5

I approach the dig site. I was not aware they had “bugs”.

The dig site pool

Of course I take a picture of the rules sign.

The view across the lake. I think having the time to take this in and relax a bit sells me on this place. It is peaceful this morning and the views alone will make me come back.

 

[Poolrat]

As we walk toward the cabana section

Some of the beautiful flowers growing by the bridge.

Which way now?

The marina

Even though this picture is not completely void of people, I like it. Maybe it tells me how much the CM’s care and how hard they work to keep the place looking great.

El Centro

I go in and make my way past a bustling Pepper Market and back down the hall of the convention center. One last look around.

I make it back to the Porte cochere and I climb aboard a bus ready to take us over to Blizzard Beach. I think I took a few pictures over there.

 

[Poolrat]

We make it over and are given our wrist bands and the turnstile CM’s let us right in.

The theme here is snow lodge.

Those imagineers don’t miss a thing.

Always good to know where this is …. Just in case.

AWWWW how cute.

There she is . would I be brave enough??

A map for those curious

A close up of the signature attraction.

It is time to hit the big attractions before the lines get long. It is a regular operating day, a Saturday, we do not need exclusive use of the park but it is the “off” season so the lines are not too bad.
I head up the chair lift and make my way up the line that is for the Slush gusher and Summit Plummit. The view is incredible.
Here you can see the Caribbean Beach resort and the Contemporary and Bay Lake.

Here is some of DHS

This one I need some help with.

AKL is in the distance

All Star Sports

Now something a bit closer.

Snow Balls- how appropriate

There is this

Do I wait here or go to the top?

 

[Poolrat]

The tamer of the two? Let’s try this first.
A cute sign but I cut off the G in Gusher.

Will I slide right to DHS?

I make it down safely and probably with a wedgie.
The view from the bottom.

Time to back up the chair lift for the big guy.
A view of what is down below.

There is a little deck area where you can watch .

The perfect contrast, pine trees and palm trees.

Ski Patrol training camp

After another plunge down the fastest waterslide I walk to the other side of the park.

Rules signs, well, because we all need rules. Toboggan run.

On the Purple slope

LOOK OUT!!!

Back in line for the

The catch side of the snow stormers

Another picture of the signature attraction from another angle.

It was almost time for lunch. I hopped in the lazy river and made my way around to the picnic area.

Our guards to make sure only those with the magic wristband were allowed in.

We were served standard Northern BBQ- Hot dogs, Hamburgers, fresh fruit, cookies, soft drinks.
I say Northern BBQ because 3 years ago I brought my DS to this conference. He had some days off school and I figure he would enjoy some park time, pool time and what the trade show had to offer. Well now he bugs me every year but he has not had time off that has coincided with the conference again so he has had to stay behind. In any event, I had called in advance to asked about what food was being served. My DS is a bit of a picky eater so if I need to feed him myself I wanted to have a heads up. Some meals were themed as Mexican or Italian food so I could find something else for him for him to eat if he did into want to try it or didn’t like the sauce etc. This meal was as standard BBQ fare. I had to probe a little further since here in the south BBQ is usually BBQ sandwiches or pork or beef shredded on a bun. My DS would not eat this. I was happy to learn it was what I term Northern BBQ or Hot Dogs, Hamburger route. Glad I asked.

 

[Poolrat]

With my belly full I hopped back in the lazy river.
Each one of the exit/entrances on the lazy river had a cute name like this.

Here is map of all the names.

I continue around the lazy river. As you go under Summit Plummit and the Slush gusher you enter a cave.

I get out and pick up a tube

The top of runoff rapids

Back up for the

This slide always seems to have the slowest lines.

I hop back in the lazy river. It is as much a mode of transportationas it isa ride.
I approach this.

You need to look out because Ice Gator is in the house and he has a cold. So he sneezes.

He also has a garden.

I make my way back around and exit the lazy river again. It is 1:30 and while we can stay until closing ( 5pm) I am ready to go. I bump into a colleague while taking this picture. We share a laugh about it.

He is doing the same. That is something we all do. I have pictures of tubes, shoes and Lifeguards.

That I bring back with me to show others.

 

[Poolrat]

I make my way out of the park. These are the latest rage in waterparks. Disney has their version.

They are always pricey but people pay. I am waiting to get some money so we can try it at our facility. Yes my facility is indoors but even indoor facilities have done this and benefitted. Go figure.
I had to get a picture of this little beauty ,before she melted.

Uh Oh Someone had an accident.

In the gift shop

By the exit

The bus stop for the regular folk. Since we were special, we had a charter bus waiting that would shuttle us back to CSR until 2pm. It was there waiting so I hopped on.

In a few short minutes I was passing this.

I walked back to the room. I showered and changed. I probably did a little packing since I was leaving Sunday.

Now do you think I called it a day?

 

[glennbo123]

I've never been to B.B., so it's nice to see such comprehensive pictures.

Northern BBQ -- that's a good one, I'll have to remember it.

You were a park maniac on this trip, so I don't think you were able to stay in the room this evening. I'll be interested to see where you went.

 

[MeMom]

I have not been to either water park, other than to drop off and pick up on the bus routes. I have seen the entrances, and that's it. The boys have been to both. Jill and I had talked about possibly one day this summer them taking Brooklynn to one while Bella and I hang out at Magic Kingdom. Since we've whittled the trip down from ten days to just week, I don't know if that will happen or not. Brooklynn would enjoy it, I'm sure.
It's fun to see pictures of Disney things I have yet to see.
I'd be up for going down the big slide.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Cool pictures of Blizzard Beach! Charles loves to ski and has been begging for a ski trip -- I couldn't help but wonder if I could get away with taking him to Blizzard Beach instead.

 

[jillyb]

Blizzard Beach looks like lots of fun! If we ever go back during the summer we'll definitely have to get in a water park.


There's no way you stayed in for the night!

 

[Poolrat]

I've never been to B.B., so it's nice to see such comprehensive pictures.

I really did take a lot of pictures didn't I? I think I was making up for all the trip where I took hardly any pictures.

Northern BBQ -- that's a good one, I'll have to remember it.

Yup Southern BBQ is a bit different. I learned that the hard way. With a picky eater I had to inquire.

You were a park maniac on this trip, so I don't think you were able to stay in the room this evening. I'll be interested to see where you went.

I could not just sit in the room. It was still early and I could sense the trip end was near so I had to get "last licks" in.

 

[Poolrat]

I have not been to either water park, other than to drop off and pick up on the bus routes. I have seen the entrances, and that's it. The boys have been to both. Jill and I had talked about possibly one day this summer them taking Brooklynn to one while Bella and I hang out at Magic Kingdom. Since we've whittled the trip down from ten days to just week, I don't know if that will happen or not. Brooklynn would enjoy it, I'm sure.
It's fun to see pictures of Disney things I have yet to see.
I'd be up for going down the big slide.

The Waterparks are cool (BB pun ) and well themed. I feel like Goldilocks a bit that I like to ge when it is not too hot and not too cold.
I am glad I can show you at least one place you have not been yet.

Some day you will get there. If not this summer then some day.


The BIG slide, really????? It is fun but it does slap you around a bit. I do it so just to say I did. I enjoy it but the wait is always way longer than the ride.

 

[Poolrat]

Cool pictures of Blizzard Beach! Charles loves to ski and has been begging for a ski trip -- I couldn't help but wonder if I could get away with taking him to Blizzard Beach instead.

I think at this point he might go for it. Disney Tree toppers and getting into the last trip.
Make it a surprise but I think heading south to go skiing might tip him off.