T
TSI_Fan
Guest
Friday 07/27/2001
Today is the OFFICIAL start to Glo-Con!! I get up super-early and drive like mad to the Dolphin to check in, get my resort ID, my E-night ticket, and then book it down to MGM. Well folks, it didn't QUITE happen that way.
(the view from my hotel room..that's ToT waaaaaay out there)
(another view from my balcony..looking straight at the Swan)
The massive fountain on the breezeway between the Swan and Dolphin. This bad-boy is HUGE!!!!!
Okay, I do get to the Dolphin at a decent hour, check in and find out they, hey hey!, my room IS ready for me. So I walk BACK to the car (I assumed it wouldn't be ready) get my stuff and haul it up to room 9032. I get my stuff situated and look at the clock..7:45! Crud! I'm supposed to meet everyone down at the docks by 8! So I throw my stuff together, grab my fanny pack, and book it down to the docks only to watch the MGM-bound Friendship boat pull away. The CM at the dock said it's "just" a short walk to MGM and wouldn't take that long. I figure, hey, it's early, I have the energy, LET'S DO IT! So I take the walkway to MGM in the hot, humid, florida sun. Ah, who cares..I'M ON VACATION!!!!!!!
So I get to the ticket counter at MGM and trade in my Play-4 Days voucher for an actual pass. I look around by the front gates and I realize....I KNOW NOBODY WHO IS GOING!!! Oh shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.....yeah, you get the idea. Quick check of my fanny pack reveals that, yes folks, I left ALL contact phone #s back in the room. So, do I: a) tour MGM alone? b) go back to the Dolphin for cell phone #s? c) cry like a baby until a cute blonde offers me a shoulder to cry on? Well...c) would have been ideal, but I go with b) so I can meet people. Soooooooo...I had enough of walking..I take the friendship boat back to MGM (first stop on the way from the park) and as I am walking up the dock I spot something........a Tennessee Vols cap. HOLY MOUSE EARS, BATMAN! IT'S TENNESSEE VOL TONY!! So being the bold self that I am (and PandyPaws walked right by me, too) I try to get his attention and say "TennesseeVolTony?" which he agrees that, yes, that's him. So I proudly say that, yes, I am TSI_Fan. We shake hands and I meet PandyPaws (Donna) and her 2 sons. We talk for a little bit while waiting for the MGM Friendship Boat and I explained my situation and was REALLY fortunate that I had good timing so I could at least go to the parks with SOME people.
So we cruise down the waterway headed to MGM (okay, headed back to MGM for me). I activate my 4-day pass and into the park we go. First stop.....
Rock n' Roller Coaster!! Pandy convinces her DS's Martin and Ryan to behave and don't get into trouble. Stand-by line was a mere 20 minutes so we're safe..we head onto the ride.
This ride ROCKS!!!! Oh it was so awesome..better than I expected. I mean, what can top riding a rollercoaster and listening to Aerosmith at the same time? NOTHING!!! The take off was the best, too. Very good ride.....#1 on my list!
Next up....Tower of Terror!!!!
We grabbed fastpasses for ToT before we headed to RnR, so we breezed onto this ride. Tony (TvT) and I went first.
..another shot of ToT with my "Black-and-White Cam"
While in line for Who Wants to be a Millionaire, we see TownCrier and his band of merry family members. We make introductions and watch the show. I realized I am not as good in this as I thought I was.
Heading back from Millionaire (to ToT) we call Poohlovr (Sue) on her cell and make arrangements to meet up. I was briefly introduced to everyone who was there but I quickly felt out of place since everyone knew everyone else except me. Ah well..I'll stick with TvT and PandyPaws for now, at least I have 2 people to talk with..oh, and they're both smokers so I was not the only one...thank goodness!!!
On the way around the Chinese Theater, I snapped a picture of the Mickey Sorcerer's Hat..rumors have been flying about what is going there. The hat itself is massive so I thought I would take a quick picture of it.
Oh yeah, here are PandyPaws' DSs, Ryan (in the stroller) and Martin (not in the stroller). They are a handful.
Lunchtime approaches, as does our PS at the 50s Prime Time Cafe. I have never been here before and it seemed like a cute thing to try so I thought I would. Little did I know what would be in store for us there. Well, lunch was great. We ordered from the menu and were reminded to say "please" when we would request an item. We set the table accordingly, and since I didn't eat since last night, I basically inhaled my lunch. Our server pointed this out to everyone in the room and was nice enough to mention that I did so well in cleaning my plate that it looked like there were tongue prints on the plate.
Cookie (Gail) did not eat her potatos and therefore was made to sing the "I'm a little teapot" song. When I saw her getting up, I whipped out my camera for a PRIME photo opportunity. When her server said that she could pick someone to sing it with her, guess where she pointed to first? That's right.......ME!!!
So here's Cookie (Gail) in the left picture, and here's me on the right picture (about ready to die of embarrassment at this point).
(the photo of me on the right includes Cookie's two Ds who are totally enjoying this)
Milo-az's DW Lora got caught with her elbow on the table 3 TIMES!!!! Her server noticed this and on the 3rd time made Lora stand in the corner as we all chanted "You don't put your elbows on the table!"
Our lunch-bunch consisted of: Shellie (Michelle), Cookie (Gail) + 2 DSs, TvT, MiloAz +DW, me, and PandyPaws + 2 DSs. After lunch, we all split back into our groups. During our post-lunch cigarette (me, TvT, and Pandy) Pandy's cell phone rings..it's the famous DAN "THE MAN" MURPHY!! Pandy's cell battery kept cutting in and out, so she replaced it with a freshly charged battery and handed me the phone so I can talk with "the man" himself. Dan, it was a pleasure talking with you on the phone! Can't wait to meet you in person! 
After walking around a little bit, we decided it's time to head back to our rooms, clean up, and prepare for the 5:30 reception. We got back to the Dolphin and we meet up with poppins50 (Carol) and her DH. We also meet up with SSB who was able to give us directions to where the reception was since none of us could find it on our own (signs would have been helpful).
No pictures from me on the reception...I didn't bring my camera. I did take FULL advantage of the open bar (6 beers) and the OUTSTANDING food..the potato bar was incredibly delicious, as was the smaller finger-foods. Here at the reception we basically met EVERYBODY! I could list names but I know I would forget some. One notable mention was the presence of Safari Steve, who learned about the reception just a day or two before I left. Me and few others mentioned it in chat and he was curious as to if he could attend. OF COURSE! Safari Steve..pleasure meeting you, buddy! The Swan/Dolphin ice sculptures were beautiful (even as they melted), the food was outstanding, and the present company was great. All in all, it was an AWESOME reception.
After the reception was E-Night at MK!! E-night was, again, AWESOME. I basically got my fill of MK in a few hours that night...got on all the major rides a couple times and basically had a blast!! NancyIL braved Space Mountain for the first time, congratulations. And a good time was had by all who attend (or so I am lead to believe).
After getting back to the room at about...oh...2am..I was dreading the early morning alarm to get to EPCOT.
Today is the OFFICIAL start to Glo-Con!! I get up super-early and drive like mad to the Dolphin to check in, get my resort ID, my E-night ticket, and then book it down to MGM. Well folks, it didn't QUITE happen that way.
(the view from my hotel room..that's ToT waaaaaay out there)
(another view from my balcony..looking straight at the Swan)
The massive fountain on the breezeway between the Swan and Dolphin. This bad-boy is HUGE!!!!!
Okay, I do get to the Dolphin at a decent hour, check in and find out they, hey hey!, my room IS ready for me. So I walk BACK to the car (I assumed it wouldn't be ready) get my stuff and haul it up to room 9032. I get my stuff situated and look at the clock..7:45! Crud! I'm supposed to meet everyone down at the docks by 8! So I throw my stuff together, grab my fanny pack, and book it down to the docks only to watch the MGM-bound Friendship boat pull away. The CM at the dock said it's "just" a short walk to MGM and wouldn't take that long. I figure, hey, it's early, I have the energy, LET'S DO IT! So I take the walkway to MGM in the hot, humid, florida sun. Ah, who cares..I'M ON VACATION!!!!!!!
So I get to the ticket counter at MGM and trade in my Play-4 Days voucher for an actual pass. I look around by the front gates and I realize....I KNOW NOBODY WHO IS GOING!!! Oh shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.....yeah, you get the idea. Quick check of my fanny pack reveals that, yes folks, I left ALL contact phone #s back in the room. So, do I: a) tour MGM alone? b) go back to the Dolphin for cell phone #s? c) cry like a baby until a cute blonde offers me a shoulder to cry on? Well...c) would have been ideal, but I go with b) so I can meet people. Soooooooo...I had enough of walking..I take the friendship boat back to MGM (first stop on the way from the park) and as I am walking up the dock I spot something........a Tennessee Vols cap. HOLY MOUSE EARS, BATMAN! IT'S TENNESSEE VOL TONY!! So being the bold self that I am (and PandyPaws walked right by me, too) I try to get his attention and say "TennesseeVolTony?" which he agrees that, yes, that's him. So I proudly say that, yes, I am TSI_Fan. We shake hands and I meet PandyPaws (Donna) and her 2 sons. We talk for a little bit while waiting for the MGM Friendship Boat and I explained my situation and was REALLY fortunate that I had good timing so I could at least go to the parks with SOME people.
So we cruise down the waterway headed to MGM (okay, headed back to MGM for me). I activate my 4-day pass and into the park we go. First stop.....
Rock n' Roller Coaster!! Pandy convinces her DS's Martin and Ryan to behave and don't get into trouble. Stand-by line was a mere 20 minutes so we're safe..we head onto the ride.
This ride ROCKS!!!! Oh it was so awesome..better than I expected. I mean, what can top riding a rollercoaster and listening to Aerosmith at the same time? NOTHING!!! The take off was the best, too. Very good ride.....#1 on my list!
Next up....Tower of Terror!!!!
We grabbed fastpasses for ToT before we headed to RnR, so we breezed onto this ride. Tony (TvT) and I went first.
..another shot of ToT with my "Black-and-White Cam"
While in line for Who Wants to be a Millionaire, we see TownCrier and his band of merry family members. We make introductions and watch the show. I realized I am not as good in this as I thought I was.
Heading back from Millionaire (to ToT) we call Poohlovr (Sue) on her cell and make arrangements to meet up. I was briefly introduced to everyone who was there but I quickly felt out of place since everyone knew everyone else except me. Ah well..I'll stick with TvT and PandyPaws for now, at least I have 2 people to talk with..oh, and they're both smokers so I was not the only one...thank goodness!!!
On the way around the Chinese Theater, I snapped a picture of the Mickey Sorcerer's Hat..rumors have been flying about what is going there. The hat itself is massive so I thought I would take a quick picture of it.
Oh yeah, here are PandyPaws' DSs, Ryan (in the stroller) and Martin (not in the stroller). They are a handful.
Lunchtime approaches, as does our PS at the 50s Prime Time Cafe. I have never been here before and it seemed like a cute thing to try so I thought I would. Little did I know what would be in store for us there. Well, lunch was great. We ordered from the menu and were reminded to say "please" when we would request an item. We set the table accordingly, and since I didn't eat since last night, I basically inhaled my lunch. Our server pointed this out to everyone in the room and was nice enough to mention that I did so well in cleaning my plate that it looked like there were tongue prints on the plate.
Cookie (Gail) did not eat her potatos and therefore was made to sing the "I'm a little teapot" song. When I saw her getting up, I whipped out my camera for a PRIME photo opportunity. When her server said that she could pick someone to sing it with her, guess where she pointed to first? That's right.......ME!!!
So here's Cookie (Gail) in the left picture, and here's me on the right picture (about ready to die of embarrassment at this point).
(the photo of me on the right includes Cookie's two Ds who are totally enjoying this)
Milo-az's DW Lora got caught with her elbow on the table 3 TIMES!!!! Her server noticed this and on the 3rd time made Lora stand in the corner as we all chanted "You don't put your elbows on the table!"
Our lunch-bunch consisted of: Shellie (Michelle), Cookie (Gail) + 2 DSs, TvT, MiloAz +DW, me, and PandyPaws + 2 DSs. After lunch, we all split back into our groups. During our post-lunch cigarette (me, TvT, and Pandy) Pandy's cell phone rings..it's the famous DAN "THE MAN" MURPHY!! Pandy's cell battery kept cutting in and out, so she replaced it with a freshly charged battery and handed me the phone so I can talk with "the man" himself. Dan, it was a pleasure talking with you on the phone!
Can't wait to meet you in person! After walking around a little bit, we decided it's time to head back to our rooms, clean up, and prepare for the 5:30 reception. We got back to the Dolphin and we meet up with poppins50 (Carol) and her DH. We also meet up with SSB who was able to give us directions to where the reception was since none of us could find it on our own (signs would have been helpful).
No pictures from me on the reception...I didn't bring my camera. I did take FULL advantage of the open bar (6 beers) and the OUTSTANDING food..the potato bar was incredibly delicious, as was the smaller finger-foods. Here at the reception we basically met EVERYBODY! I could list names but I know I would forget some. One notable mention was the presence of Safari Steve, who learned about the reception just a day or two before I left. Me and few others mentioned it in chat and he was curious as to if he could attend. OF COURSE! Safari Steve..pleasure meeting you, buddy!
The Swan/Dolphin ice sculptures were beautiful (even as they melted), the food was outstanding, and the present company was great. All in all, it was an AWESOME reception.After the reception was E-Night at MK!! E-night was, again, AWESOME. I basically got my fill of MK in a few hours that night...got on all the major rides a couple times and basically had a blast!! NancyIL braved Space Mountain for the first time, congratulations.
And a good time was had by all who attend (or so I am lead to believe).After getting back to the room at about...oh...2am..I was dreading the early morning alarm to get to EPCOT.
It was embarrassing as all hell, but still fun...weren't you so GLAD I picked you to be my little co-teapot? LOL 
