Planning fanatic mom
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Can't wait for more!!
What a disaster!!
- Thread starter topdog
- Start date
topdog
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You are a brave man. Ha! Ha! Then again, I was known to be a bit wacky too.1. I'm not a long hair type of guy (even though I also had longer hair in the 90's LOL). People would think that was so funny to know about me
2. I am a 30 year old white guy. I was the same way you were for a long time. Then something snapped and I just quit worrying. So, I look silly for 30 seconds around people I"ll never see again. But that funny picture will last forever! Even though I'm a local, I love to go around the parks and snap "silly" pictures. As long as I don't run into my boss, I'm okay. My boss can't find me crazy
Thank you. There are many reason why I choose to cut my hair but the main reason was it became too much work. Not to mention I have some kind of OCD. I have to washed my hair twice a day. LOL...
I will update my TR real soon.
I was really disappointed with TE and I really want to like it too. I can tell you this much...Day #5 is going to be long.
topdog
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Yay! Another stuff animal coming out. I don't feel so outcast now.
Thanks. I really want to like TE but I just can't do it. I already heard many people told me that place has gone downhill for a while.
Thanks Anna. Glad you join the ride and glad you like the pictures. I am sure you will love WL. Keep reading...there are more WL pictures coming up.
topdog
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OMG, thats a cell phone. It looks like a fanny pack, how did you manage to carry it around the parks all day, I bet it built up your leg muscles.Lovin the long hair, it looks great on you. Ted is sooo cute, I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one that has a stuffed animal that I have with me frequently. After I graduated nursing school we were pretty poor so for my birthday my husband got me a stuffed fox dressed in a nurses outfit he had the kids put kisses inside it. That was the best present I have ever gotten, I just love it, she sits on my bed.
Another stuffed animal coming out. Hurray!!! The stuff fox sound cool!
That old cell phone do weight pretty heavy. I am not a fanny pack kind of guy. Never did and never will.
topdog
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Sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for more!!
Can't wait for more!!
I went to Philly for business yesterday and didn't get home until late last night. I was totally exhausted. Then next installment should be ready soon. Get those popcorn ready.
topdog
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Day #5 (Thursday) Part 2
Just to recap about the promo. These are the few items we bought from Emporium.
A scrap book, original from $32.99 and markdown to $16.99. (What a bargain! But I couldn't believe how expensive a scrap book can be since this will be my first.) A Mickey leather cover note book from $19.99 markdown to $6.99. There were a few small items too to make up the $35 limit. The watch is the promo item for $15.
Our goal today was to pickup a few of the items at the gift shop we saw from our last visit at DHS. More importantly, our other goal is to find this Mickey margaretta glass.
We believe we saw this glass first at Polynesian Resort gift shop. However, we went back there the next day and have never seen it again ever since. By Day #5, we have already went thru all the major resort gift shop from WL, PR, CR, GF & POP. It was no where to be found. We also hunt through each and every single gift shop we came across at MK, AK, DHS and even DTD, still nada. We were hoping if we kept looking, maybe one of the gift shop might restock this item eventually.
So we left WL at about 11am. and we arrived DHS a little after 11:30am. As soon as we walk in to DHS, we realize there was some kind of special event going on. It was the American Idol Experience Premiere Party.
We asked one of the CM there what is going on? She said, there will be a parade with some of the AI former contestants at 4:30pm and Disney had put up the AI decoration from the night before.
They had the blue carpet layout from the main entrance all the way thru main street. They then block off each intersection for people to cross the street until parade time which the entire main street will be completely block off then for the parade. Even though the park wasn't overly crowded but it was some what cumbersome going from one side of the main street to the other. We felt a little bit like trapped in a maze.
In any even, we manuver our way to TOT first. Again, there was no wait. This time was even fast than Day #3. After the ride was over, I decided to buy a TOT t-shirt for myself. So I break out our Disney $200 gift card for the first time from our 4/3 package promo to pay for the t-shirt. I did my best to picked the cheapest t-shirt I can find but I still end up paying like $17 for mine. Yes. I am that cheap.
After the purchase, we then head over to RRC. This time, they have a line so we choose to take the Fastpass. Return time was somewhere around 1:25pm, I think. We then went back out and continue our treasure hunt. We went into this gift shop, I forgot the name, the theme has something to do with the villains.
DW and I picked a few small items. A couple of voice buttons like the Staple's "That's easy" type of button. One for me, it said "I am surrounded by idiots." The voice was by Scar from Lion King. The other one was for our friend, I think it said "Off Your Head". I can remember which voice is that. DW also pick a few small item for herself. The total was like some where around $20. No major damage. Again, we paid this with the Disney gift card.
After we came out of the villain gift shop, I want to have a snack. There is no ADR for lunch today because we miscalculate our DxD points. Since we change our last night's ADR from Jiko (a 2 points TS restaurant) to the Wave (a 1 point TS restaurant), we thought we gain an extra point back. In addition to some of the reserve points we had for our fly by lunch, we really though we still have 2 dining points left. The calculation turns out to be off by 1 point. By then we have already made breakfast ADR tomorrow at Kona cafe and lunch ADR at Wolfgang Puck Cafe @ DTD on Day #7 this morning. No harm done there though. I told DW we can use 1 dining point at WPC and we can pay from our pocket for KC breakfast. No big deal. We just have to starve today, that's all. LOL... So we found a snack vendor and I want to have a Mickey ice-cream bar.
Never have one before and I am not an ice-cream fan either. I have to say it was pretty good or maybe it's because I am hungry. Thank goodness for snack point. It saved the day.
We sat near where all the radio station booths were set up for live broadcast for the AIE premiere party. Thankfully, they were still in the set up mode so no one was around. After we finished our snack, it was still early, barely 12:00pm. So we went back to 50's PTC so I can retake a picture of the entrance because I only took picture from the inside and totally forget the outside. After that, we strolled through the Chinese Theatre entrance for some footprint pictures.
Goofy and Roger Rabbit were a must for me.
Yes, I did manage to add Mickey in my collection also.
Of course, DW has to have her Donald footprint. LOL...
After than, we browsed through the Animation Studio just to the gift shop for our treasure hunt. Obviously, we came back out empty hand. Then we moved on over to the Pixar Studios. That was a little crowded.
I wanted to try the Toy Story Mania ride but it was just too crowded. Waiting time is already 60 minutes and we couldn't get a second fastpass.
So we just walked pass by to observed the crowd and took some odd pictures.
By then, we were a little tired. So we sat down again for a little rest. As soon as we got up and walking back toward the Sorcerer hat area. BAM!!! I almost ran over by a bunch of strange green men marching towards me. LOL...
We then finally arrived back to RRC but we were still a few minutes early. So we found a shaded area and rest. While we were waiting, I notice a side entrance opened up and a small group of people came out walking towards the DJ box area. The whole group of people were wearing some kind of Disney uniform except one lady in the middle of the group. When I looked at her face, I notice right away that was one of the former AI contestant Melinda Doolittle. I told DW that who she was and she said I was seeing things. Keep in mind, I am a reality show junkie. I even applied for Survivor season 3 but never got a call. I have been watching AI since first season. I might not remember every single contestant's name but I can remember who they are when I saw their faces.
I didn't even give it a thought if I was seeing things or not because our fastpass time was up. We got in to the RRC and we were in and out in less than 30 minutes. After RRC, it's time for treasure hunt again for the Mickey margaretta glass. This time, we went back to the mainstreet gift shop. I believe it's called Hollywood of Mickey. We spend a great deal amount of time to picked what we want and hopefully accumulate enough to purchase another promo, the Mickey & Minnie quilt.
After we gathering our stuff, approach to pay for our stuff and told them we want to get the quilt since we already have purchase a bunch of stuff from the other DHS gift shop. The CM told us we can't do that. I explain to her we already heard two different stories about how the promo works. She still insisted we can't accumulate purchase from other gift shop even from the same park to buy the promotion merchandise. However, she was nice enough to alert the manager of the store and we explain everything all over again on what we were being told. We also showed her the receipt from the other purchase which was made only an hour or so ago from the shop only a hundred yards away.
The manager finally told the CM to let it through but it's an exception. She explained to us this promotion should not be allow for accumulation even from the same store. However, since we got the wrong stories from different places, she decide to bend the rule and let us purchase the quilt. Obviously there were a lot of back and forth between us with the CM and the store manager. (Hint...hint for later.) I thought this whole experience was some what frustrating but wasn't that bad. Disney merchandise marketing could've done a better job on communicate their promotion policy through out the compound though. It was just a little inconvenient but it's all good in the end.
Finally, we paid our stuff with the Disney gift card. We were so happy about the quilt. We were practically floating out of the gift shop because DW really wanted that quilt. It was already past 2:30pm by then. The main street was so crowd. Walking around became very difficult. Many people already camped by the side walk waiting for the 4:30pm AI parade. Better them then us. Not to mention, even the sky was still cloudy, temperature has already went close to 80. We didn't want to stick around any longer with the crowd and the heat so we "squeeze" our way back to the entrance and took the bus back to WL.
On our way out, a few of the security were giving us a hard time because we weren't moving fast enough for them. Personally, I just couldn't take them serious.
Would you take them serious if one of them carry this for emergency? LOL...
Just to recap about the promo. These are the few items we bought from Emporium.
A scrap book, original from $32.99 and markdown to $16.99. (What a bargain! But I couldn't believe how expensive a scrap book can be since this will be my first.) A Mickey leather cover note book from $19.99 markdown to $6.99. There were a few small items too to make up the $35 limit. The watch is the promo item for $15.
Our goal today was to pickup a few of the items at the gift shop we saw from our last visit at DHS. More importantly, our other goal is to find this Mickey margaretta glass.
We believe we saw this glass first at Polynesian Resort gift shop. However, we went back there the next day and have never seen it again ever since. By Day #5, we have already went thru all the major resort gift shop from WL, PR, CR, GF & POP. It was no where to be found. We also hunt through each and every single gift shop we came across at MK, AK, DHS and even DTD, still nada. We were hoping if we kept looking, maybe one of the gift shop might restock this item eventually.
So we left WL at about 11am. and we arrived DHS a little after 11:30am. As soon as we walk in to DHS, we realize there was some kind of special event going on. It was the American Idol Experience Premiere Party.
We asked one of the CM there what is going on? She said, there will be a parade with some of the AI former contestants at 4:30pm and Disney had put up the AI decoration from the night before.
They had the blue carpet layout from the main entrance all the way thru main street. They then block off each intersection for people to cross the street until parade time which the entire main street will be completely block off then for the parade. Even though the park wasn't overly crowded but it was some what cumbersome going from one side of the main street to the other. We felt a little bit like trapped in a maze.
In any even, we manuver our way to TOT first. Again, there was no wait. This time was even fast than Day #3. After the ride was over, I decided to buy a TOT t-shirt for myself. So I break out our Disney $200 gift card for the first time from our 4/3 package promo to pay for the t-shirt. I did my best to picked the cheapest t-shirt I can find but I still end up paying like $17 for mine. Yes. I am that cheap.
After the purchase, we then head over to RRC. This time, they have a line so we choose to take the Fastpass. Return time was somewhere around 1:25pm, I think. We then went back out and continue our treasure hunt. We went into this gift shop, I forgot the name, the theme has something to do with the villains.
DW and I picked a few small items. A couple of voice buttons like the Staple's "That's easy" type of button. One for me, it said "I am surrounded by idiots." The voice was by Scar from Lion King. The other one was for our friend, I think it said "Off Your Head". I can remember which voice is that. DW also pick a few small item for herself. The total was like some where around $20. No major damage. Again, we paid this with the Disney gift card.
After we came out of the villain gift shop, I want to have a snack. There is no ADR for lunch today because we miscalculate our DxD points. Since we change our last night's ADR from Jiko (a 2 points TS restaurant) to the Wave (a 1 point TS restaurant), we thought we gain an extra point back. In addition to some of the reserve points we had for our fly by lunch, we really though we still have 2 dining points left. The calculation turns out to be off by 1 point. By then we have already made breakfast ADR tomorrow at Kona cafe and lunch ADR at Wolfgang Puck Cafe @ DTD on Day #7 this morning. No harm done there though. I told DW we can use 1 dining point at WPC and we can pay from our pocket for KC breakfast. No big deal. We just have to starve today, that's all. LOL... So we found a snack vendor and I want to have a Mickey ice-cream bar.
Never have one before and I am not an ice-cream fan either. I have to say it was pretty good or maybe it's because I am hungry. Thank goodness for snack point. It saved the day.
We sat near where all the radio station booths were set up for live broadcast for the AIE premiere party. Thankfully, they were still in the set up mode so no one was around. After we finished our snack, it was still early, barely 12:00pm. So we went back to 50's PTC so I can retake a picture of the entrance because I only took picture from the inside and totally forget the outside. After that, we strolled through the Chinese Theatre entrance for some footprint pictures.
Goofy and Roger Rabbit were a must for me.
Yes, I did manage to add Mickey in my collection also.
Of course, DW has to have her Donald footprint. LOL...
After than, we browsed through the Animation Studio just to the gift shop for our treasure hunt. Obviously, we came back out empty hand. Then we moved on over to the Pixar Studios. That was a little crowded.
I wanted to try the Toy Story Mania ride but it was just too crowded. Waiting time is already 60 minutes and we couldn't get a second fastpass.
So we just walked pass by to observed the crowd and took some odd pictures.
By then, we were a little tired. So we sat down again for a little rest. As soon as we got up and walking back toward the Sorcerer hat area. BAM!!! I almost ran over by a bunch of strange green men marching towards me. LOL...
We then finally arrived back to RRC but we were still a few minutes early. So we found a shaded area and rest. While we were waiting, I notice a side entrance opened up and a small group of people came out walking towards the DJ box area. The whole group of people were wearing some kind of Disney uniform except one lady in the middle of the group. When I looked at her face, I notice right away that was one of the former AI contestant Melinda Doolittle. I told DW that who she was and she said I was seeing things. Keep in mind, I am a reality show junkie. I even applied for Survivor season 3 but never got a call. I have been watching AI since first season. I might not remember every single contestant's name but I can remember who they are when I saw their faces.
I didn't even give it a thought if I was seeing things or not because our fastpass time was up. We got in to the RRC and we were in and out in less than 30 minutes. After RRC, it's time for treasure hunt again for the Mickey margaretta glass. This time, we went back to the mainstreet gift shop. I believe it's called Hollywood of Mickey. We spend a great deal amount of time to picked what we want and hopefully accumulate enough to purchase another promo, the Mickey & Minnie quilt.
After we gathering our stuff, approach to pay for our stuff and told them we want to get the quilt since we already have purchase a bunch of stuff from the other DHS gift shop. The CM told us we can't do that. I explain to her we already heard two different stories about how the promo works. She still insisted we can't accumulate purchase from other gift shop even from the same park to buy the promotion merchandise. However, she was nice enough to alert the manager of the store and we explain everything all over again on what we were being told. We also showed her the receipt from the other purchase which was made only an hour or so ago from the shop only a hundred yards away.
The manager finally told the CM to let it through but it's an exception. She explained to us this promotion should not be allow for accumulation even from the same store. However, since we got the wrong stories from different places, she decide to bend the rule and let us purchase the quilt. Obviously there were a lot of back and forth between us with the CM and the store manager. (Hint...hint for later.) I thought this whole experience was some what frustrating but wasn't that bad. Disney merchandise marketing could've done a better job on communicate their promotion policy through out the compound though. It was just a little inconvenient but it's all good in the end.
Finally, we paid our stuff with the Disney gift card. We were so happy about the quilt. We were practically floating out of the gift shop because DW really wanted that quilt. It was already past 2:30pm by then. The main street was so crowd. Walking around became very difficult. Many people already camped by the side walk waiting for the 4:30pm AI parade. Better them then us. Not to mention, even the sky was still cloudy, temperature has already went close to 80. We didn't want to stick around any longer with the crowd and the heat so we "squeeze" our way back to the entrance and took the bus back to WL.
On our way out, a few of the security were giving us a hard time because we weren't moving fast enough for them. Personally, I just couldn't take them serious.
Would you take them serious if one of them carry this for emergency? LOL...
Tiki Room Fan
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jul 6, 2005
- Messages
- 381
Hi topdog! I started reading your TR earlier and read straight through to page 11 (including all comments by other Disers) and I have to stop now to get some things done. I am thoroughly enjoying your TR, especially all of the pictures and I love your sense of humor!! I can't wait to continue reading the rest of your report. I had to laugh when I saw how many pictures you take at WDW cuz I'm good for taking at least 1,000 myself, and I just have a simple P&S camera. I loved your spooky castle pictures - awesome!! Your DW takes great pictures, too. Sorry to hear about the camera bag fiasco, but glad to hear it made it safely to you. Thanks for the fun TR!!!
Blessed99
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2008
- Messages
- 247
Hi Top Dog! I am a new fan of your trip report.
I am really enjoying your pictures. WOW. The castle shots have blown me away, especially the ones with the water reflection.
I am anxiously awaiting your next installment. I think your English is just fine and I have had no problems following you!
Love the Ted E Bear story too by the way!
I am really enjoying your pictures. WOW. The castle shots have blown me away, especially the ones with the water reflection.
I am anxiously awaiting your next installment. I think your English is just fine and I have had no problems following you!
Love the Ted E Bear story too by the way!
topdog
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 5, 2009
- Messages
- 1,028
Hi right back to you Tiki Room Fan. Yay! A new reader. Glad you came along for the ride. Also glad you enjoy my TR and pictures. I will relate your compliment to my DW. She'll be so thrill. There are still more TR and pictures to share. Stock up those popcorn. Another photography fanatic. Excellent! I really think my next theme photo should be candid shot of other photographers in action at WDW. Any volunteer???Hi topdog! I started reading your TR earlier and read straight through to page 11 (including all comments by other Disers) and I have to stop now to get some things done. I am thoroughly enjoying your TR, especially all of the pictures and I love your sense of humor!! I can't wait to continue reading the rest of your report. I had to laugh when I saw how many pictures you take at WDW cuz I'm good for taking at least 1,000 myself, and I just have a simple P&S camera. I loved your spooky castle pictures - awesome!! Your DW takes great pictures, too. Sorry to hear about the camera bag fiasco, but glad to hear it made it safely to you. Thanks for the fun TR!!!
Did we ever find the glass? My TR will explain eventually. He! He! (Evil laugh.) I has to see where did DW hide the quilt. I will post a pic as soon as I can find it.
Cliffhanger?? Absolutely. There is a little clue already hidden inside this installment.Great update! I'm still wanting more. I feel a cliffhanger???
Yay! A new reader and fan. Glady you enjoy my TR and pictures.
LOL...Those guys were hysterical. They were yelling and screaming. One of them was threaten to arrest me for being a paparazzi.I wonder if that security guard was planning on shooting someone with that banana?? Too funny!!
WillowBelle
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 4, 2009
- Messages
- 791
Great report! I hope you found your glasses. They are pretty cool looking. Are they glass or plastic?
Love the security guards -- especially the one with the spurs on his shoes. Too funny!!!
Love the security guards -- especially the one with the spurs on his shoes
. Too funny!!!Misslandsquirrel
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2009
- Messages
- 48
LOVE the new installment. I almost peed my pants laughing when I got to the part that said "Thank goodness for snack credit. It saved the day!"
GeminiAngel
Wherever you go, there you are.
- Joined
- Aug 5, 2003
- Messages
- 2,329
Another great installment. I could use that 911 donut right about now.
Can we see the quilt? I don't really care for DHS, but I like the shopping.
Can we see the quilt? I don't really care for DHS, but I like the shopping.
mecllap
<font color=limegreen>"Skamps"<br><font color=mage
- Joined
- Apr 3, 2006
- Messages
- 2,821
Quote: "A couple of voice buttons like the Staple's "That's easy" type of button. One for me, it said "I am surrounded by idiots." The voice was by Scar from Lion King. The other one was for our friend, I think it said "Off Your Head". I can remember which voice is that."
I think that might be the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland? "Off with her head"!
(And I'm sure you know that those particular "security guards" are part of the Studios "Street Characters" -- they're always fun to see and interact with).
Glad you're still working on your TR (DD and I are starting to feel like topdog "groupies."
I think that might be the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland? "Off with her head"!
(And I'm sure you know that those particular "security guards" are part of the Studios "Street Characters" -- they're always fun to see and interact with).
Glad you're still working on your TR (DD and I are starting to feel like topdog "groupies."
william4192
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2007
- Messages
- 493
Hey top Dog, I was there the same day as you! I was there for the AI parade! You should have stayed for it. It was awesome!
manntra
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 19, 2007
- Messages
- 2,367
Hi there!!! It took me a bit (I am reading @ work 
) but I am finally at the end, well not the end but you know what I mean!! I love your style, your a-m-a-z-i-n-g photos, and of course your awesome sense of humor! I think you need to start planning another trip to Disney (or just buy DVC
) You are a great story teller and I can't wait until your next installment!! Thanks so much for sharing!
) but I am finally at the end, well not the end but you know what I mean!! I love your style, your a-m-a-z-i-n-g photos, and of course your awesome sense of humor! I think you need to start planning another trip to Disney (or just buy DVC) You are a great story teller and I can't wait until your next installment!! Thanks so much for sharing!
GoofyFairie
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 5, 2008
- Messages
- 1,144
Enjoyable as always! The pics were great. I shared the pics of Toy Story Mania and the cops with my kids. They were disappointed you didn't have any more pics of TSM, but happy to get a glimpse. It was under construction when we were there and it is at the top of our Power Disney To Do List for our next trip (which we have no idea when it will be!). My kids can't decide what is funnier, the spurs, the banana gun or the emergency donut! You made their day today! We say a keystone cop sneakinghis way down the main street at DHS when we were there. He was trying to "hide" behind potted plants and trees that were as thick as tooth picks. He was hilarious!
I, too, would like to see the quilt if you can post a pic and as a scrapper I have to tell you that the cost of the album is minor compared to the money you will spend on supplies and equipment! They make one of the best souvenirs though IMHO.
Keep up the story telling, I am anxious to hear how the rest of the day turns out. I'll go get some chips, I hate popcorn! Unless it is smothered in caramel!
I, too, would like to see the quilt if you can post a pic and as a scrapper I have to tell you that the cost of the album is minor compared to the money you will spend on supplies and equipment! They make one of the best souvenirs though IMHO.
Keep up the story telling, I am anxious to hear how the rest of the day turns out. I'll go get some chips, I hate popcorn! Unless it is smothered in caramel!
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