Disney Is in our DNA About This Page:

[dsteiny23]

Both of your dinners looked fabulous!! They are both on my 'I-want-to-eat-here-with-Craig-and-no-kids-one-day' list. (it's a pretty long list )
I guess you ran up against your alloted rain free days this trip, huh?
Not sure how I'd feel about the PotC ride breakdown. I like backstage stuff, but I live in a bubble there and don't always like when it's popped. Craig and I went to MK one time a Looooong time ago and got there as the parade was starting so they walked us out and behind Main Street into the back of Tomorrowland. I was a bit scarred from that.

[OhToodles!]

Well I'm FINALLY caught up - just before the end!
Your nephews are too cute - they sure have a great time! I'm sure I'f have more comments but after 20+ pages - I've forgotten all I was going to say. But I loved reading it!
Why does it take so long to get people off rides? I remember being stuck on Buzz for like 45 minutes - and we were at the end - where it's just Buzz talking to you. It's very frustrating.

[MayraLR]

7 times on TOT in one morning, that's impressive!
I'd be freaked out a little bit if I was stuck in POTC for that much time.

[LLaffinPlace]

This is about the best that I can do--I took this with the iPhone and tried to bring it up a bit.

We were stuck on POTC literally perched ready for the drop. You can see some light down at the bottom.


Sharon, Bob & Larry - ready for the drop that never came.

[Grammy Grumpy]

Ahhhh, being stuck on PoC, I remember it well. That happened to a bunch of Mousefest people one year as we were getting a tour with Steve Barrett (Hidden Mickeys). He had expected maybe 50 or so people to show up for the meet and I think we numbered around 200! CMs let us all go to the left and fill boats from that side. We were in the boat just behind the one that got stuck ON THE DROP. So, I know the spot you were at very well. Unfortunately they did not turn off the music for a very long time.

When they got the stuck boat off the drop they were able to restart the ride. We all got FPs afterwards. Oh, and the number of the boat that got stuck - #13!!

OK, you can continue now!

[Principessa_di_Fata]

I fell behind, but I'm all caught up now! Cannot believe you got stuck for so long AND got evacuated! HOW COOL! (lol) We were stuck on HM for about 15 minutes and I thought that was highly annoying because we were in the graveyard listening to the "grim grinning ghosts" song. Annoying... but it would have been much cooler had we been evacuated, lol.

BTW... I get to see you in 2 days!! WAHOO!

[rhinohunter]

Finally got caught up. I really liked the pix on WWHOP. You did great with a camera you could stuff in your pocket and walking quickly to catchup with the queue. Other reports have all complained about the long lines.

[MosyBliss]

We got stuck one time on HM (well who am I kidding, we seem to always get stuck in the HM) for about 45 minutes...and the worst part was that we were right between the ballroom and the graveyard area just looking at a black wall in between the two the entire time. We eventually started moving again and we were quickly being reminded to not forget our death certificate....but being stuck on a ride at Disney still beats a day outside of Disney any day.

[ilovedisney247]

Originally Posted by PrincessSharon

Heather, you know how you love trying different burgers at WDW? Well, I can guarantee you’d hate the kids’ burger at Mara. It was well done. I don’t mean normal fast-food-burger well done. I mean this thing was actually crispy. It crunched when I bit into it! BURNT! Of course, I prefer well done (fast-food-burger) burgers, but this was a bit much. I ate it anyway, without complaining about it, but that was mostly because I was already back in my room before I started eating it. Had I been in the Mara, I absolutely would’ve sent it back, and for me, that’s saying something!

You are quite right--I would have hated that burger--and I would have marched right back to the Mara and given them back the inedible burger. I like my "real" burgers medium rare to rare and my "fast" burgers NOT crunchy.
Cracks me up the things people associate with me around here: burgers, ducks, and cupcakes are surely not the first three things people at home would "word associate" with me. I think it would be workaholic, alcoholic, and messy.

Sounds like another great meal with Bob &Larry. The salad looks fantastic and I'm so glad you liked the gnocchi. I always want to order it and then get side tracked by the wild boar and the buffalo. Although it appears that the boar is no longer on the menu.

I love that you rode COP twice in a row--as that might be the first time anyone has ever done that since the ride was at the World's Fair! I really like the ride, but it is in need of an update and I almost wish they could add new sections in . . . say one from 1970 and a current one. However, unless they make the other sections smaller, that's impossible--and I bet would require a lot of work for very little return. It's one of the few rides that doesn't have a gift shop!

[cubfancolleen]

Originally Posted by ilovedisney247

I love that you rode COP twice in a row--as that might be the first time anyone has ever done that since the ride was at the World's Fair! I really like the ride, but it is in need of an update and I almost wish they could add new sections in . . . say one from 1970 and a current one. However, unless they make the other sections smaller, that's impossible--and I bet would require a lot of work for very little return. It's one of the few rides that doesn't have a gift shop!

Can you imagine the things they could offer at a COP gift shop!?

[PrincessSharon]

Originally Posted by cubfancolleen

Cool! I've never been evacuated from a ride, and feel as though I'm missing something!

It is kind of a rite of passage.

Originally Posted by Cam22

What an amazing dinner! What an interesting ride on PoTC! We got stuck on Buzz with a group of PPers several years ago for about an hour, but I too thought it was cool to be evacuated.

I was once on the GMR with a group of PPers - 13 of us in all. Bad luck? Maybe. We had to be evacuated from that, but after sitting for only a few minutes. I thought that was equally cool.

Originally Posted by LLaffinPlace

Dining with Princess Sharon is always a treat. And we had two wonderful meals together. It was only my second trip to Narcoosee's. I had surf & turf. Marvelous!

Artist Point is a longtime favorite. I was sorry we couldn't have Sandrine as our server, but she stopped by to chat.

Being stuck on POTC was interesting, as was the evacuation, but it went on kinda long. At some point after the soundtrack was blessedly silenced, they turned off the waterfall. We could see that there was someone down at the bottom of the drop but around the curve because at one point we could see the flashlight beam. Unfortunately, the boat seats aren't particularly comfortable.

Sharon, I am still hoping to do a trip report on the South Pacific trip but I was hoping to get copies of my friend Sue's pictures first.

The worst thing about being stuck was the uncomfortable seating. The best thing was being with you guys!

Originally Posted by buzzspal2

What a fun day. BTW I think we all become our moms as we get older. It happened to me one morning when I hollered at Jay to Turn the music down.

Originally Posted by Caldercup

I'm giggling at the thought of the steam coming out of Zack's ears right now.

So you're saying I shouldn't ask him the name of the giant round office building?

Originally Posted by honeybee723

I'll definitely make sure mom has her little point & shoot with her that day...thanks!

Dinner looked delicious!!! I too love a good gnocchi, so I probably would have had to skip dessert too. It's amazing how the news embellishes everything. One hour turned into two, and why would this story be news worthy anyway? I guess I wouldn't have minded being stuck for a little bit if it meant getting to go backstage, but again, that's just the Disney freak in us.

They had to embellish the story to make it even seem a little interesting. People were stuck for 2 hours! The trauma they must've suffered! Disney is awful!

Originally Posted by goofysdtr

Sharon, I know I've told you a million, bajillion times, but I absolutely reading your TRs!

Pretty sure Zack died of apoplexy while reading your description of your Star Tours ride! Not positive, but I'm just guessing.

Sorry about the problems with POTC. Being stuck for so long stunk, but at least you had some good buddies to hang with! I, too, would've thought it pretty cool to see the back-side of POTC!

I think you may be my biggest fan! And if Zack survived the reading, he'll have to explain what I was seeing.

Originally Posted by disney_duke

Aaaah, yes. You were part of the infamous "2 hour wait!" People in line around me were still talking about that in early October! Your dinner sounded delicious. I still have to get to that restaurant. I think the gnocchi is also calling my name.....

So I AM famous after all!

Originally Posted by dsteiny23

Both of your dinners looked fabulous!! They are both on my 'I-want-to-eat-here-with-Craig-and-no-kids-one-day' list. (it's a pretty long list )
I guess you ran up against your alloted rain free days this trip, huh?
Not sure how I'd feel about the PotC ride breakdown. I like backstage stuff, but I live in a bubble there and don't always like when it's popped. Craig and I went to MK one time a Looooong time ago and got there as the parade was starting so they walked us out and behind Main Street into the back of Tomorrowland. I was a bit scarred from that.

I've done the behind Main Street path, and I HATE it! Especially because it's ruining the magic for no good reason!

Originally Posted by OhToodles!

Well I'm FINALLY caught up - just before the end!
Your nephews are too cute - they sure have a great time! I'm sure I'f have more comments but after 20+ pages - I've forgotten all I was going to say. But I loved reading it!
Why does it take so long to get people off rides? I remember being stuck on Buzz for like 45 minutes - and we were at the end - where it's just Buzz talking to you. It's very frustrating.

Don't worry Kelly, I'm woefully behind on TRs myself! And I think it took so long in our case because they kept trying to start the ride back up.

Originally Posted by Grammy Grumpy

Ahhhh, being stuck on PoC, I remember it well. That happened to a bunch of Mousefest people one year as we were getting a tour with Steve Barrett (Hidden Mickeys). He had expected maybe 50 or so people to show up for the meet and I think we numbered around 200! CMs let us all go to the left and fill boats from that side. We were in the boat just behind the one that got stuck ON THE DROP. So, I know the spot you were at very well. Unfortunately they did not turn off the music for a very long time.

When they got the stuck boat off the drop they were able to restart the ride. We all got FPs afterwards. Oh, and the number of the boat that got stuck - #13!!

OK, you can continue now!

I remember hearing about that POTC incident! At least they got that one going again!

Originally Posted by Principessa_di_Fata

I fell behind, but I'm all caught up now! Cannot believe you got stuck for so long AND got evacuated! HOW COOL! (lol) We were stuck on HM for about 15 minutes and I thought that was highly annoying because we were in the graveyard listening to the "grim grinning ghosts" song. Annoying... but it would have been much cooler had we been evacuated, lol.

BTW... I get to see you in 2 days!! WAHOO!

Can't wait to see you and Meri again!

Originally Posted by rhinohunter

Finally got caught up. I really liked the pix on WWHOP. You did great with a camera you could stuff in your pocket and walking quickly to catchup with the queue. Other reports have all complained about the long lines.

Luckily, we were in and out of there before the lines got long.

Originally Posted by MosyBliss

We got stuck one time on HM (well who am I kidding, we seem to always get stuck in the HM) for about 45 minutes...and the worst part was that we were right between the ballroom and the graveyard area just looking at a black wall in between the two the entire time. We eventually started moving again and we were quickly being reminded to not forget our death certificate....but being stuck on a ride at Disney still beats a day outside of Disney any day.

I was stuck on the HM once as well (well more than once, but you know). Anyway, they turned on the work lights, which thrilled me. And I was so impressed with the detail that people won't really see because it is usually dark. I never seem to get stuck in the graveyard scene like Melanie did. She hated it - I would enjoy it, because I adore that song!

Originally Posted by ilovedisney247

You are quite right--I would have hated that burger--and I would have marched right back to the Mara and given them back the inedible burger. I like my "real" burgers medium rare to rare and my "fast" burgers NOT crunchy.
Cracks me up the things people associate with me around here: burgers, ducks, and cupcakes are surely not the first three things people at home would "word associate" with me. I think it would be workaholic, alcoholic, and messy.

Sounds like another great meal with Bob &Larry. The salad looks fantastic and I'm so glad you liked the gnocchi. I always want to order it and then get side tracked by the wild boar and the buffalo. Although it appears that the boar is no longer on the menu.

I love that you rode COP twice in a row--as that might be the first time anyone has ever done that since the ride was at the World's Fair! I really like the ride, but it is in need of an update and I almost wish they could add new sections in . . . say one from 1970 and a current one. However, unless they make the other sections smaller, that's impossible--and I bet would require a lot of work for very little return. It's one of the few rides that doesn't have a gift shop!

Yeah, it's funny the things you get to be known for around here. But I'm sure everyone here and in your actual life will have one word in common to describe you - fun! And I've thought about a COP additional scene before - there are I think two empty theaters - one for loading and one for unloading. I (and I'm so much an expert on this) think they could eliminate one and load people and unload from the same one. Of course the ROI would be absolutely minimal, so it makes no sense!

Originally Posted by cubfancolleen

Can you imagine the things they could offer at a COP gift shop!?

I would TOTALLY buy an Uncle Orville t-shirt! "No privacy at all around this place!"

[PrincessSharon]

Day Ten – Monday, September 5
The list of last minute must do’s gets longer and longer

I was up at 6:30, and I got packed and ready. The RAC stuff had been slipped under my door (they’d printed my SWA boarding pass for me, and having used EBCI, I didn’t have to do a single thing to get checked in).

After a quick breakfast (more cereal), I headed down and dropped off my luggage. Then I caught a bus to the MK. I didn’t feel the need to rush because I had 3 FPs to use for any attraction, and I didn’t have much on my “must do” list. At least I didn’t think I did.









I was early enough after park opening that I didn’t even really need the FPs, but I used them anyway. I started with BTMRR, and it was as much fun as it always is.



Then I decided I hadn’t done the CBJ this trip and I needed to do that. Luckily, a show was just about to start, so I popped in there and watched it.


The park was really busy




Wendell Bear – he sings “Mama Don’t Whoop Little Buford”

Next, the Haunted Mansion. I was alone in my doom buggy, and my hitchhiking ghost knew I was alone, which I thought was cool. The old one used to just sit in the middle, even if I was already there. Hey! And the cool thing I noticed, being the first one out of the stretching room and having nobody ahead of me, the ghosts play around when there’s nobody in the car. Like one has a ball and chain on his ankle, and he throws it down and falls into the doom buggy. Soooooo cool! I love when Imagineers do stuff like that, when only like 2% of park guests will ever see it.



I got a call from DM with a request for some more fudge. I added that to the list of things I needed to do. I sent Larry a text with my current ETA and then hopped on Peter Pan (using the FP).


Still not too busy – only a 25 minute standby

Then I realized that I hadn’t done Philharmagic this trip, so I had to do that. Then I used my final FP for Space Mountain.



And I couldn’t be in Tomorrowland without another spin on the Peoplemover. Then I headed to the Confectionery and got some fudge for me and DM. By this point, it was too late to meet Bob & Larry at Sunshine Seasons, so I figured I’d meet them at their resort and see them off on DME.

I headed to the bus stop and waited forever for a bus. I think in the morning, say before noon, return bus service is spotty at best. After a while, I figured I’d never make it before the guys had to be on their bus, so I sent Larry a text goodbye.

I figured I’d stay at the MK and do a few more things, so I headed back into the park. I hopped on the train and took a spin around, and then stayed on again until Frontierland. Since I had a chance to fit in a few more things I hadn’t done, I walked over to Adventureland for a Dole Whip float.



Then I did the Jungle Cruise again. My skipper this time (I think her name was Amy ) was fantastic. She was my favorite in a while. I took a bunch of pictures this time.





























I decided to be brave and try Pirates.





I figured the odds for getting stuck on it again were like a million to one. So guess what happened. I didn’t get stuck, had a great ride. But I had you going for a bit, didn’t I?

I wanted to relax at AKL a bit before it was time for my DME, so I strolled out of the park. I got to the bus stop, and this time, a bus arrived within minutes. Back at the hotel, I found a comfy spot to watch the animals.

When it was almost time for the bus to arrive, I went and collected my laptop bag that I’d stored with Bell Services. It was an ABD bag, and while I waited on a bench, a couple asked me about ABD (and maybe I did a little commercial ).

The bus arrived and everyone boarded. We didn’t make any other stops and went directly to MCO. Apparently, I was the only one on the A side, and the bus driver practically threw me off the bus, telling me it would be “quicker” to get off at B and walk. I didn’t want to argue with him, so I got off (and he got no tip from me). Technically, it is quicker, but only because we didn’t have to drive over to the other side. I didn’t walk any less (and then, I had to figure out how the heck to get over to the other side of the airport).

There was a fairly long line at security, which is slightly unusual for the time of day. A woman behind me asked me about ABD (thanks to my ABD messenger bag) and her grandson became very concerned that she was talking to a stranger!

Before going to my gate, I went and got some dinner at McDonalds (the only time I ever seem to eat McD’s is when I’m at MCO!). My flight was listed as on time, so I was pleased.

While waiting for boarding, the gate agents were announcing that if you had flexible travel plans and could fly back in the morning, you’d get a $300 voucher plus your airfare. I was really tempted, but my Dad was having surgery the next day.

The flight was running about 5 minutes or so late, and the crew tried to get us to hurry. When every seat will be filled, they try to encourage people to grab the first available seat, and the one crew member on the mic (I’ve seen him before) was hilarious. At the end of the safety announcement, he got a huge round of applause.

The flight was fine and I slept most of the way. We landed about 5 minutes early, so we made up all that time plus some. I went to collect my luggage (I had 2 bags because I was afraid I’d be over the weight limit with just one). My large bag came out, but the smaller one (the one I normally use as a carryon) never showed up.

I went to the luggage office and the woman said they often have lost luggage when people use RAC at Disney. I’m happy to say this is the first time I’ve had a problem, and I’m hoping it’ll be the last. I wasn’t too concerned, because that particular bag had a bunch of clothes in it (most of them dirty to boot). I was on the last flight of the night, so she expected my bag to be on the first flight in the next morning. She told me they could deliver the bag to my home or I could pick it up for a $50 voucher. It was pretty convenient for me to pick it up, so I chose the free 50 bucks.

I called DM, who was waiting for me in the cellphone lot, and that was the end of a terrific trip.

Up Next: Final thoughts and ramblings

[chezp]

Great ending to another wonderful trip! I love how much you packed into your last day - and thank goodness you didn't get stuck on Pirates again!

[disney_duke]

You sure jampacked a lot into your last day. But then, is there any other way to do it?? The Dole Whip float looks perfect right about now...... Interesting to hear what SW said about using RAC.... I'll finally be using that for the first time in January.

[dsteiny23]

You certainly can get a lot done whe you don't have any tag-a-long-ers. I'm dreaming of a Dole Whip now. Just 3 more weeks!! ABD should put you on their marketing payroll!