"What's Your Problem?" Caught by loop and hook... (COMPLETED 4/20, post 426)

[The Disney Fanatic]

May 3, 2009

Ahhh... another beautiful morning in sunny Lake Buena Vista, FL! Today we are heading back to Epcot to experience things we did not get to on day 2. This was also the park rated to be the least crowded for today by the crowd calculator. We knew today was going to be a long day because we have made the decision to view Illuminations this night... so we all slept in quite soundly until around 7:30 (believe me... this IS sleeping in for DD!).

After showers, dressing and a quick bite to eat in our room, we saunter over to Bus Stop 4 and wait for the next bus to Epcot. Seems this particular morning the buses were not timed very well... we witnessed 2 buses come and go for Magic Kingdom... and waited over 30 minutes for the Epcot bus to arrive. This is quite annoying considering how close we are to Epcot! Even more annoying since DW is not as patient as I am. She was ready to start calling people at this point... and she seemed peeved that I did not have a telephone number for the head of Disney transportation "You have every other Disney number in that backpack!" she says. Hehe... I have it now.

OK... so the bus ride goes uneventful from there and we arrive unharmed at Epcot's front gate. Through the bag check and turnstile we go and head straight for Soarin'. We just can't get enough of that ride! Standby line was only 20 minutes... so we get in line. DD still gets kick out of the golf ball! (ok... I admit... so do I)

Since Imagination! is so close, we walk on over to have some fun taking our pictures and playing with all the gadgets. First, we have to ride "Journey Into Imagination With Figment". The previous year DD did NOT want to get on the ride. Still not sure why she was fighting it, but this year was different. She was practically pulling me to get on the ride. With no one waiting in line, we grab our own car and hop on. I think my favorite part of that ride is where everything is upside down.

Once the ride is over, we take quite a while to play with all the interesting gadgets at ImageWorks. DD loves making music, so she was entertained with the motion sensor displays... the kind where you wave your arms and the instrument plays. DD and DW were doing that while I was at the picture kiosks. It's fun taking your picture and then making yourself into a lion! Unfortunately, the picture never made it to my email box. Not sure what happens after the picture gets transmitted... but it's been more the 6 months and no sign of it. Anyway... we all check out the area where you can run around and when the light catches you on an instrument, it pays part of the figment song. Well... rather than try to explain it to you, check out this video... even DW joined the fun here:

Video:


That song can surely get stuck in your head! Personally, I like the song. But I know there are others that despise it's very existence. I suppose it's comparable to IASM... which I loath to hear repeatedly. Go figure. Anyway, I digress... we exit the ImageWorks area and hang out at the leap frog fountains for a little while. DD was having a blast chasing the water "frogs" jumping back and forth. Have a mentioned she's a water baby? Where there's water.... you'll find DD playing in it...

Video:


And here are a few pictures from the same location:







From here we decide it's finally time to go check out World Showcase. This is DD's first time walking over to this part of Epcot. And it's been too many years since the last time DW and I were at Epcot... so in essence this is fresh for all of us. Check out these pictures I took along the way....

DD was happy to have found this hat... if you've seen the Disney Vacation DVD from 2008 you will notice that this is one of the hats the kids grabbed as a souvenir:



This is one of my favorites... I love the "hidden" Mickey in this picture:



... and in case you didn't actually see that "hidden" Mickey:



... and a few more in different colors:





Now you may be wondering why I took this picture... but I think it shows the true attention to detail and imagination that only Disney is able to provide on a daily basis. I really liked how they designed these signs and took the time to even put the "streamers" on top of it.



More awesome topiaries:










Now these ones were by the kid's playground. DD really liked this area and we spend a little time here so she could burn off some of that 6 year old energy















And if you were interested to see what the play area is like, here is a small video as DD is playing:



I love the fake grass material they use under the equipment... nice and "springy". Wonder how much that stuff costs?? I'd even use it in my front yard! HAHA!

Day 6, Part 2: "Finally Caught By Loop and Hook"

My son and I are sitting here enjoying the pictures. I'm just now getting around to your TR (sorry). I'm loving it!

 

[Emma's Dad]

My son and I are sitting here enjoying the pictures. I'm just now getting around to your TR (sorry). I'm loving it!

I'm so glad you are enjoying the TR! I plan to have an update out soon!

 

[stopher1]

I'm so glad you are enjoying the TR! I plan to have an update out soon!

BEFORE you leave for your next trip back to CSR...right?!?

 

[Emma's Dad]

BEFORE you leave for your next trip back to CSR...right?!?

HAHA! Yep

 

[FreezinRafiki]

BEFORE you leave for your next trip back to CSR...right?!?

He's got to - its the law.

 

[trennr]

(to the every popular "Pants on the Ground" rap.)

Times Runnin' out...Times Runnin' out.
Better get to work 'for you time runs out.

 

[Emma's Dad]

HAHA! I know... I know... I've been busy making igloos

 

[Emma's Dad]

May 4, 2009

What an exciting day we have ahead of us! Back on Day two we performed a dry run of catching an Orlando public transportation bus (LYNX) from the TTC to Sea World. We are certainly glad we did the dry run... otherwise it may have taken us longer to get to where we were going. We manage to be up and ready and out the door around 8:00... catch a CSR resort bus to the GF... and a monorail ride over to TTC. Sounds like a round-about way of getting there... but it worked for us on day 2... and we like to do things the "easy" way! We arrive at our bus stop destination just after 8:30. Oh... our timing was not good here... because according to the bus schedule the bus has just left (8:31)

Earlier in the TR I did not go into much detail on how exactly one goes about getting to the bus stop. For those who are interested, here is a satellite view of the TTC and a path you take from the monorail to the actual bus stop:



Follow the link below to see the route we are taking to get to Sea World:

Link 50 - Route from TTC to Sea World

What we didn't know prior to arriving at TTC is the Link 50 route also has a stop at DTD! So... this knowledge will help us in April 2010 when we go visit Aquatica. Instead of hanging out at the TTC we could simply catch a WDW resort bus to DTD... then catch the Lynx bus to Sea Harbor Drive. My only concern when we go to Aquatica is the distance between the link stop and the front gate at Aquatica. Hopefully there is another stop at the end of Sea Harbor Dr at I-drive.

So the bus picks us up at the TT&C and we start making our way to Sea World around 9:00am. There are actually a few people waiting at the stop with us. At DTD we pick up more people and there was a couple with a little girl who was around DD's age got on the bus at that time. They ended up sitting across from us... and DD started talking to the girl. After a few minutes, DD asks if she could move over to the other seat so she can talk more with the girl. Our social butterfly! LOL! So the two chit-chat and are giggling the whole way to the park. The parents were nice... we made small talk. It was more fun watching two girls get to know each other. Turns out they were heading over to Aquatica and possibly back to Sea World... DD really wanted to meet back up later... but we just let them go without any further commitment. DD was not happy... but she gets over it pretty quickly.

The walk from the bus to the front gate takes only a few minutes. Since we have platinum passes for Busch Gardens Williamsburg we are able to get in for free. My DW loves that word. You should see the twinkle in her eye when that word is used! HAHA! Anyway... here are pictures at the entrance and inside the front of the park:









We pick up a map of the place and decide the first thing we are going to do is see the Shamu show "Believe" since it starts in 20 minutes. Prior to coming to Sea World we did not sit down and discuss anything about it. This was not a smart move on my part. I did not do much research about the park to see what shows were offered... or the see how the park was laid out... or even what rides were available to enjoy. We were now "flying by the seat of our pants". Let's see how well this works out.

Here's a few shots of the lagoon as we are walking to the stadium:



You can see them bottom of Sky Tower in this picture:


Sky Tower:




We make it to the stadium and find that many people have already begun to find their way to the good seats. Even though it was only 10:00am, the temperature was already rising... so DD and I wanted to get wet. DW on the other hand did NOT want to get wet... so she stayed up in the upper section, while DD and I found good seats in the "soak" section. BTW... they actually have the steps labeled so you know where you are most likely to get wet. It's not a guarantee... but it's fairly accurate. And if you see the show at this time of the day... take note... the stadium is facing east and that sun gets pretty hot in the soak section on the left side of the stadium. Good for drying out!

Since DW was in a soak-free zone, she now had control of the camera... so the next shots at the show were taken by her. I think she did a great job! The video is a little long... but it captures the essence of the show. At the 2 min 50 sec mark you will see where DD and I are getting soaked! Direct hit!

Video:


Various pics:





















Overall I thought the show was good. DD liked it. I wouldn't go out of my way to see the show again... but it wasn't bad either. It just wasn't a Disney show, if that makes sense.

With the show over, we decide to continue strolling around the other side of the lagoon. My next installment with take us through the rest of the day at Sea World. Ever hear of Manta? I didn't either... until later that day...

Next up... Day 7, Part 2: "Sharks!"

 

[FreezinRafiki]

I agree with your review of the show - good, but not great. But eventually it started feeling like one big advertisement for those little wooden whale tail necklaces that they just happen to be selling outside the stadium and at every gift shop in the place.

 

[DisneyDaddy-O]

Great pics of the show!!

Do you remember what the bus ride cost? Just curious.

I would have been in the wet seats as well, DW would have sat in the dry seats as well.

Looks like a nice park, we plan on visiting someday but we can't get ourselves out of Disney long enough.

 

[trennr]

Yes...Heard of Manta...seen Manta on Travel Channel...must ride Manta next time I get the chance to go.

Also the Kraken is a pretty killer...in 2007 Me and SIL (Brother's Wife) must have rode the Kraken 5-6 times in a row. No one else wanted to ride...well DS10 (DS7 at the time) wanted too but was too short. We had Radios...kept telling the others that the line was slow once you got up in there...we would get on ride...make the trip back around and ride again...longest we had to wait was 2 loads. Me and SIL loved the Kraken...can't wait to try the Manta.

Oh yeah...that part about being FREE. I love that word too.

 

[stopher1]

May 4, 2009

What we didn't know prior to arriving at TTC is the Link 50 route also has a stop at DTD! So... this knowledge will help us in April 2010 when we go visit Aquatica.

Good to know! Where abouts is it at DTD - near the Pleasure Island/West Side WDW bus area or somewhere else? We made our first ever visit to Sea World Orlando last October while in FL for my birthday. We've been to San Diego before, but never Orlando. The boys definitely want to go back - especially for Manta! We LOVED that ride. Went on it 3 or was it 4 times in 2 days, I can't remember. We had actually seen a webcam ride-through view of it last summer before going - that alone was pretty cool, but nothing quite like being on it yourself. Did you like it? Can't wait to hear.

We pick up a map of the place and decide the first thing we are going to do is see the Shamu show "Believe" since it starts in 20 minutes. Prior to coming to Sea World we did not sit down and discuss anything about it. This was not a smart move on my part. I did not do much research about the park to see what shows were offered... or the see how the park was laid out... or even what rides were available to enjoy. We were now "flying by the seat of our pants". Let's see how well this works out.

Here's a few shots of the lagoon as we are walking to the stadium:






















Overall I thought the show was good. DD liked it. I wouldn't go out of my way to see the show again... but it wasn't bad either. It just wasn't a Disney show, if that makes sense.

More great pics! I agree it certainly isn't a Disney show, but we really enjoyed it, even with the seeming advertisement for the little whale tail necklaces We actually ended up with one of those necklaces, since DW really wanted the Believe! DVD - and I was the sucker for the necklace. It was cheaper to get the deluxe DVD that included the necklace than to buy separately, so I did. And we've watched that DVD, I don't know, 20 or 30 times since October. DD just loves it, and every so often, pulls it out to relive the "Shamu, Shamu" parts. Plus I will admit it does have some cool bonus features that tell more about killer whales, and my middle child is very much an animal nut, so it's right up his alley. At this point, even still 5 months after visiting Sea World, he still says he wants to get a job there to become a whale trainer. He's been saying he wants to go into some sort of animal profession for years now, so it doesn't surprise me in the least.

We watched the show twice while there - once on each day. Actually sat in the stadium 3 times, but the first one was cancelled because the whales weren't cooperating and didn't want to do the show. Crazy stuff. We'd sat there for about a half an hour in preparation. The opening music had begun, and .... nothing. Finally a couple of the trainers came out and apologized saying they couldn't get the whales to move where they were supposed to go for the opening of the show. They were perplexed by the animals' behavior, and needed to cancel that particular show and to please try back later. So we did - and the show went on just fine. It was a wierd waste of time, if you will, but hey, if a creature that large doesn't want to move, he doesn't want to move!

Our first show (that actually went on) was in the upper section of the Soak Zone, and we got sprinkled. The next one we chose the 2nd row of the Soak Zone and man oh man did we get drenched. It was AWESOME!

 

[stopher1]

Also the Kraken is a pretty killer...in 2007 Me and SIL (Brother's Wife) must have rode the Kraken 5-6 times in a row. No one else wanted to ride...well DS10 (DS7 at the time) wanted too but was too short. We had Radios...kept telling the others that the line was slow once you got up in there...we would get on ride...make the trip back around and ride again...longest we had to wait was 2 loads. Me and SIL loved the Kraken...can't wait to try the Manta.

My boys and I went on Kraken. They loved it. I was just so-so about it. I did go a 2nd time with them, but that was it for me. I sent my DW the 3rd time. It gave me a headache, which is why I refused the 3rd trip. DW didn't care for it at all. The boys can't wait to go back to SW to ride both again!

 

[Emma's Dad]

I agree with your review of the show - good, but not great. But eventually it started feeling like one big advertisement for those little wooden whale tail necklaces that they just happen to be selling outside the stadium and at every gift shop in the place.

Yep.. that's about right. We exited the stadium by the gift shop... and I kept on walking! LOL

Great pics of the show!!

Do you remember what the bus ride cost? Just curious.

I would have been in the wet seats as well, DW would have sat in the dry seats as well.

Looks like a nice park, we plan on visiting someday but we can't get ourselves out of Disney long enough.

I believe the cost was $1.50 per person each way. It was less than $10 for all of us round trip. Sometimes it's good to get away from Disney for a little while... makes you appreciate Disney more!

Yes...Heard of Manta...seen Manta on Travel Channel...must ride Manta next time I get the chance to go.

Also the Kraken is a pretty killer...in 2007 Me and SIL (Brother's Wife) must have rode the Kraken 5-6 times in a row. No one else wanted to ride...well DS10 (DS7 at the time) wanted too but was too short. We had Radios...kept telling the others that the line was slow once you got up in there...we would get on ride...make the trip back around and ride again...longest we had to wait was 2 loads. Me and SIL loved the Kraken...can't wait to try the Manta.

Oh yeah...that part about being FREE. I love that word too.

We didn't get to ride Kraken....but it wasn't because I didn't want to. More on that in the upcoming installment.

Good to know! Where abouts is it at DTD - near the Pleasure Island/West Side WDW bus area or somewhere else? We made our first ever visit to Sea World Orlando last October while in FL for my birthday. We've been to San Diego before, but never Orlando. The boys definitely want to go back - especially for Manta! We LOVED that ride. Went on it 3 or was it 4 times in 2 days, I can't remember. We had actually seen a webcam ride-through view of it last summer before going - that alone was pretty cool, but nothing quite like being on it yourself. Did you like it? Can't wait to hear.

The bus stops at the Marketplace... at the corner of Buena Vista Dr and Hotel Plaza Blvd... right in front of Earl of Sandwich. Very short walk to EOS.
You'll find out about Manta soon enough

More great pics! I agree it certainly isn't a Disney show, but we really enjoyed it, even with the seeming advertisement for the little whale tail necklaces We actually ended up with one of those necklaces, since DW really wanted the Believe! DVD - and I was the sucker for the necklace. It was cheaper to get the deluxe DVD that included the necklace than to buy separately, so I did. And we've watched that DVD, I don't know, 20 or 30 times since October. DD just loves it, and every so often, pulls it out to relive the "Shamu, Shamu" parts. Plus I will admit it does have some cool bonus features that tell more about killer whales, and my middle child is very much an animal nut, so it's right up his alley. At this point, even still 5 monnths after visiting Sea World, he still says he wants to get a job there to become a whale trainer. He's been saying he wants to go into some sort of animal profession for years now, so it doesn't surprise me in the least.

We watched the show twice while there - once on each day. Actually sat in the stadium 3 times, but the first one was cancelled because the whales weren't cooperating and didn't want to do the show. Crazy stuff. We'd sat there for about a half an hour in preparation. The opening music had begun, and .... nothing. Finally a couple of the trainers came out and apologized saying they couldn't get the whales to move where they were supposed to go for the opening of the show. They were perplexed by the animals' behavior, and needed to cancel that particular show and to please try back later. So we did - and the show went on just fine. It was a wierd waste of time, if you will, but hey, if a creature that large doesn't want to move, he doesn't want to move!

Our first show (that actually went on) was in the upper section of the Soak Zone, and we got sprinkled. The next one we chose the 2nd row of the Soak Zone and man oh man did we get drenched. It was AWESOME!

That's crazy that the show got cancelled! But I can certainly understand. I don't think you really want to go trying to make a killer whale do something he doesn't want to do That is some COLD water, isn't it??

My boys and I went on Kraken. They loved it. I was just so-so about it. I did go a 2nd time with them, but that was it for me. I sent my DW the 3rd time. It gave me a headache, which is why I refused the 3rd trip. DW didn't care for it at all. The boys can't wait to go back to SW to ride both again!

Maybe we'll try hitting SW again just so I can ride Kraken and Manta! We'll be right down the street.... with free admission

 

[dvczerfs]

caught up!!! i havnt been to sea world in about 12 years. do they still have the clyde and semour show?

 

[DisneyDaddy-O]

Sooo.....it seems pretty quiet in here.

Hello Hello Hello

 

[stopher1]

Sooo.....it seems pretty quiet in here.

Hello Hello Hello

Yes, yes it does, doesn't it. Of course, that's what happens when there are weeks, sometimes months between updates...

 

[DisneyDaddy-O]

Yes, yes it does, doesn't it. Of course, that's what happens when there are weeks, sometimes months between updates...

I'm not sure how this whole hi-jacking thing works, but I'll give it my best shot. opps am I supposed to call it a hijack or do we call it something else and do we need to ask for permission first.

I'm so confused...:

 

[stopher1]

I'm not sure how this whole hi-jacking thing works, but I'll give it my best shot. opps am I supposed to call it a hijack or do we call it something else and do we need to ask for permission first.

I'm so confused...:

I think you already made your declaration on the other thread... I'd say just fire away! Perhaps you could post some pictures - that seems to be effective...

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

I'm not sure how this whole hi-jacking thing works, but I'll give it my best shot. opps am I supposed to call it a hijack or do we call it something else and do we need to ask for permission first.

I'm so confused...:

I think you need to start discussion on a tangent that has an incredibly tiny relation to something in Don's TR. I got on a roll yesterday thinking about dream trips and bucket lists...it doesn't take much to get me thinking about great future vacations. And this is a trip report, which has to do with a vacation. So I think that sort of topic fits as a potential hijack thread.