The moment you've all been waiting for- TRIP REPORT!!!
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Gonzo · 07-25-2001, 11:12 AM

Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, and Islands of Adventure

June 22-27, 2001

Cast:

I: (20 year-old going on 16, Disney park FIEND)
Mother/tikibird: (almost 39-year-old, Disney FIEND)
Father: (39 year-old, enjoys Disney parks some but definitely prefers Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure)
Brother: (17 year-old, ibid father)

Day 1

It was a bit of a hectic morning. One annoying tidbit would be when Mom asks if everyone has their photo ID to show the US Airways employee, I check my wallet only to discover that it is missing. It becomes perfectly clear to me at that point that my brother took it out of my wallet so he could buy cigarettes (he is 17 and we sort of look alike), so we got off on the wrong foot early. Dad was playing his usual “I don’t care if we go to the trip or not, so I’ll be Josef ‘STALLIN’” role. We were running late for our early morning flight and it seemed like a possibility that we could miss the flight. As we approached, a US Airways employee started asking for people who had 7:45 flights, and letting them skip the line. This was giving me the idea that mayhap we (with a 7:56 flight) might be overlooked, and therefore miss the plane. However, no such thing occurred, and the flight departed on time.

We arrived in Orlando, and headed over to the hotel we would be staying at, the All-Star Music Jazz building. We ate lunch at the hotel food court, and I had my staple vacation meal: chicken fingers with fries. It took some time to get everything in gear, and we didn’t end up leaving for Disney-MGM Studios until around 2 o’clock. When we arrived, there was a torrential downpour. Everyone else except for yours truly wanted to stay inside of a gift shop until the rain was over with. I, on the other hand, was extremely hyper and excited about going on rides/shows at this point. You see, this was something I was fantasizing about going to again ever since I got back from last May’s trip. I was not going to let a little H20 from the sky get in my way of viewing MUPPETVISION 3D and the Rock N’ Roller Coaster. Therefore, I volunteered to run hundreds of feet in the pouring rain to get us all fastpasses for the Rock N Roller Coaster. As I came back to the gift shop, I knew what was only minutes away, MUPPETVISION 3D, my favorite attraction in the whole park! The rain continued as I made a mad dash to the theater, while the rest of the family moved at a normal pace behind me. I was going so fast and in such a state of excitement, that I didn’t even notice that I passed NBA superstar Patrick Ewing on the way. We arrived just at the end of the pre-show (which I wasn’t glad about, because that’s one of my favorite, if not my favorite pre-show, but all was well) and the show itself was just as wonderful, if not more, then I remembered from last May. At the show’s end, I was cool, calm, and collected. A stop over to the gift shop was made, and a Gonzo beanie caught my eye. However, I didn’t feel like carrying it around in the rain all day, and I knew we would stop at this store again, so the blue guy purchase was put on hold. Afterward, we went over to the not-so-far-away Great Movie Ride, and had a short, 10 minute wait. I had gone on this ride before, but I didn’t remember several of the movies that one goes through on this ride. It was enjoyable, but I think the “acting” part of it kind of drags the ride down, as opposed to improving it. Prior to boarding this ride, I noticed that there was now a very large Sorcerer Mickey hat in front of the ride. I didn’t care much either way for the hat, but it seemed to disturb my mother deeply, and she would complain vigorously each time we passed it.

Next would come my least favorite ride experience of the entire trip: the Tower of Terror. I expected brother and father to enjoy this ride (they did) but it wasn’t until I got on it that I really remembered how much I disliked it the last time I went on it. What made things worse was the fact that we had to wait around a half-hour to go on it. As would be mentioned several times later by myself, this was the last time I was EVER going on that ride. I can’t stand it for the following reasons: the pre-show is really stupid, and doesn’t make any sense whatsoever. Four people get trapped on an elevator and they all disappear with the elevator after a thunderstorm, and now, for some reason, we (lucky ones who get to ride this) are going to get to ride the same elevator. On top of that nonsense, I don’t enjoy heights, and when you’re up in the elevator, you can see the cars in the parking lot, and they are almost microscopic. Lastly, when the elevator jerks upward, it’s just a horrible feeling, and it gives me a headache. You get that sinking feeling inside, and that’s just not something I want to feel on a Disney World trip, much less anywhere else. So call me a “wuss,” but I can’t stomach that. However, there was ONE good thing to come out of this experience: a picture is taken of your elevator at the beginning of your “dips.” My father was sitting in the middle seat in the back row (the only one on the ride to get a seatbelt) and he was wearing a bright shirt. Therefore, he stuck out like a sore thumb and this made for one classic ride picture, at least for our family. While standing around in the TOT giftshop while the picture was being purchased, I walked around outside for a little, and I noticed a nearby water fountain. I took a drink, and the water was cool and not rusty! This was a first for me at any Disney World park. After the TOT picture was purchased, we then moved over to the Rock N’ Roller Coaster with our handy dandy fastpasses that I braved through a storm to collect. This ride is even better than I remembered, and the TOT experience was but an afterthought after going on this.

Dinner time came rolling around after this ride and we had priority seating reservations for Primetime Café. I once again had my usual meal consisting of chicken (bbq’d) with a milkshake. The chicken was good, but nothing to get excited over. What was excellent was the chocolate milkshake, possibly the best I’ve ever tasted. After dinner, I figured that the Muppetvision would be wonderful to view as our food digested. [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img] While entering the attraction, mother asks a CM where the “key under the mat” is. We view it, and I am disappointed. Mom was informing me about this earlier, and I was expecting at the very least a cool-looking Kermit or GONZO key. We conclude the MGM portion of this day after this and head over to our hotel to rest.

We lay around for awhile and then journey over to the Magic Kingdom for E-TICKET NIGHT! But we left a little bit earlier so we could see a few things that would not be opened for the e-ticket night. The one ride that I requested to see first was the Pirates of the Caribbean. I had been fiending this ride ever since our December 2000 Disneyland trip. That version is truly a magical ride. This version, however, just does not quite add up to the original. It is much shorter, the pirates do not look as good, there is no Blue Bayou (and fireflies which seems to be a tikibird favorite), and the talking skullhead does not even compare. On the other hand, it is still a very good ride. Afterward, we notice that there’s a very small line for the new Aladdin ride, so we go on that for the first time. This is a very weak ride, and I made the mistake of riding it with my brother. The 2 of us argued the whole time over who should steer the carpet. I’d swear that we were back in grade school again. Needless to say, I don’t think I’ll be riding that again unless it has little to no line, I’ve seen everything else I wanted to see, and I’m riding with someone who doesn’t care about who’s steering the carpet, or by myself.

Anyway, the time then comes for e-ticket night. Our first E-ride is Splash Mountain. This makes me happy, because this is my favorite ride in the Magic Kingdom. I do not enjoy the ride as a whole quite as much this particular time, however, because I’m a little worried about my gelled hairdo being messed up by the water. We get just about as wet on this ride while our log is near the log that goes down the big dip at the end than the big dip itself. But this ride is grade A+, nonetheless, and is even more enjoyable at night. This is because, when you’re outside, places like the opossum residence look more real because you don’t really notice things such as speakers quite as much. Also, the glowing eyes in the dark look better. At the conclusion of this masterpiece of a ride, we head over the Big Thunder Mountain. This is the most enjoyable time that I’ve ever ridden this ride, and I have much more respect for it now. The main problem I have with this ride is that, like Space Mountain, looks like a tall person’s head might get lodged off while going into some of those caves. Sure, it’s quite an irrational fear, but I wonder why the imagineers did this? The next ride we hit up is the Haunted Mansion, another classic ride. This is possibly my 2nd favorite in Magic Kingdom for its great special effects and the fact that it’s a dark ride.

Next on the itinerary is Tomorrowland. We go on Buzz Lightyear first and I rack up what I think is my highest score ever on that ride: about 189,000, which is quite more than tikibird’s 3,800. Tikibird still holds the family record with two 999,000 scores from May 2000’s trip, which nobody will ever quite figure out how she did. Next, tiki suggests that we ride the TTA. I figure “why not?” and brother and father don’t seem to excited about it, but we all go on it. I had to give tiki many props after we got off of this ride. I was expecting your average train ride, but this is kind of a dark ride in and of itself. You get to see Walt Disney’s model for Epcot Center, some very good looks at Space Mountain that you will probably never get to enjoy while riding Space Mountain itself, and you get to view just about every other ride/show there. There’s also a part that they kept from the “wedway people mover” I believe, where a lady is getting her hair done in the future. This has intrigued me to this day, and I wish I could have seen what the original ride looked like. TTA is now a must-see on my list for any Magic Kingdom trip, and everyone else agrees. Last, but not least, we ride Space Mountain. It’s a very cool ride, but I almost always end up getting that “head-lodged-off” feeling like I get on BTM. This ends our E-Ticket Night fun and we go on the Monorail. Thanks to tiki, we get to ride up front. This is quite a different experience to ride up front, and I really like when the voice on the ride talks in Spanish. [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img]
End Of Day 1

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tigger536 · 07-25-2001, 11:28 AM

Wow! Great details! I enjoyed your mother's report and I am enjoying yours as well! You guys sure did alot on your first day! [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

I only hope my trip report is half as good! (We leave today. My flight is in 2.5 hours and my mom's flight just landed in Orlando!)

I look forward to reading the rest of your report when I get back!

[img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]Jacquelyn

[ 07-25-2001: Message edited by: tigger536 ]

tikibird · 07-25-2001, 10:16 PM

Wow - great report so far! [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

I'm glad to see that all the money I have been taking out in loans for your college education has paid off. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] This is a big leap from your eleventh grade research paper that started out "Germany is cool." [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

Seriously, I really enjoy hearing your perspective of the trip. Keep 'em coming!

MrsPotts · 07-26-2001, 12:53 AM

Great first-day report Gonzo! I can't wait to read the rest of it!

I was LOL when you mentioned being afraid that your 'gel hairdo' would get messed up! My fiance has ruled out any water rides for the same reason! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

07-26-2001, 10:52 AM

Great trip report...can't wait to see more. I also loved seeing how you and tikibird had such different views of things. It's cool seeing how she describes the family and how you describe the same family, differently.
Hope one of my son's grows up with as much love for Disney as I have....like you with your mom [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

Cinderella_68 · 07-26-2001, 10:44 PM

Great report Gonzo! Don't stop while you're hot! LOL
I love seeing the trip from both yours and your mom's viewpoints!
Waiting for more...

Gonzo · 08-02-2001, 06:20 PM

Day 2

On the 2nd day of our Floridian conquest, we ventured out to Epcot Center. Again, it rained when we arrived, and that prevented us from doing what we had planned to do there first: either ride or get fastpasses for Test Track. Instead, we went on my favorite attraction in the whole park: Spaceship Earth. I was quite impressed once again with this ride, and there were several items on there that I didn’t even remember from last year’s trip. It’s a truly magical dark ride like this one that makes you feel like you’re really in another world, and the worries of everyday life are for naught for those few minutes. Who else other than Disney could make the history of communication so interesting and eye-catching? Everyone else seemed to enjoy the ride, also. Afterwards, the crew headed into one of the dreaded “Innoventions” buildings (basically the Carnegie Science Center of Florida but with bogus advertisements), but only to collect our thoughts and to locate our next attraction to visit.

This attraction would turn out to be the Universe of Energy. This ride/show has its high and low points, more high. The dinosaurs on this ride are incredible in my opinion, much more detailed than the ones @ IOA’s Jurassic Park river ride. It is also an educational show. However, I feel that the movie part of the show is too long and should have been occupied by more animatronics. I also do not really agree with the theory of macroevolution, nor do I find Ellen or anyone else on the show to be funny. By the time the show ended, it was about that time to head over to Le Cellier’s for our PS lunch. The place was about empty when we arrived, yet about full when we left. It had a relaxing atmosphere, but it was nothing too drastically different from what you’d see at any other semi-fancy restaurant. I really enjoyed the appetizers (3 different types of breadsticks; I was munching on the pretzel sticks and sourdough). The main course that I ordered, a steak burger, was also good. Tikibird falls in love with this restaurant.

We leave the restaurant and the rain continues. I have a very cheesy garbage bag-like poncho that doesn’t cover a whole lot of my body on, as well does my brother, and mom decides to buy each of us an official Mickey Mouse one. Afterward, we ventured back to Future World, and first stopped at Ice Station Cool. As you enter, watch your step. It is slippery. There is some snow and an amusing cave man figure who unfortunately met his end while trying to grab a coke. The end of this part takes you into a gift shop with soda fountains that feature different Coke products from around the world. I find the German brand to taste the best, and several others were also worthwhile. However, tikimom slyly convinced me to try the bitter Beverly’s, as I disgustingly replied with “I hate you.” We then travel over to the Living Seas and unfortunately sit through the video. It is okay, but has a reference to macroevolution and has the feel of something that you’d watch on the Discovery Channel when you’re really bored. The rest of this ride, however, I enjoy, and we spend some time looking at the manatee (brother poses for a few pictures while puckering up next to the glass with a large fish in the same aquarium).

The next item on our agenda was the Land. We ventured over to Living With the Land first, and the sign said that it would be a 50 minute wait. However, the line didn’t look like it would take nearly that long, and we actually only waited for about 20 minutes. I like this ride, because it is informative, relaxing, and also has some animatronics. I take note of the good view that a certain restaurant up above gives you of the jungle part of the ride and I may want to eat there during my next WDW stay. [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img] Dad falls asleep on the ride, which is observed by our host. At the conclusion of that ride, the fam goes over to Food Rocks. Brother and father don’t really want to see it at all, but they end up doing so. I thought the show was better than I expected it to be; however, the animatronics’ mouths really don’t go along with the songs themselves at all. Brother, tikimom, and I get quite a kick out of lyrics that went something like “make yourself a leafy salad” because of my salad-freak father. It is an amusing show that is worth seeing once per trip.

The rain stopped by the time we ventured back outside, and we stopped over at Ice Station Cool again. This is just a fabulous place for anyone who wants some quick refreshment without having to pay the ridiculous drink prices at the park. Afterward, we travel back to Test Track, figuring and hoping that it might be open now, which it was. Because of the long line wait, we obtain fastpasses for that ride and then head back to the different countries. The first stop is Canada, because tikimom has been talking A LOT about beavertails and brother and I really want to try one, too. I get a chocolate hazelnut and sugar one (as well does tikimom) and Chris gets a maple and chocolate. The other 2 seem to enjoy theirs, but not quite as much as I enjoy mine. I found mine to be very good, and would not hesitate to get another during a future trip. The tail reminds me of a flattened out, cream-filled donut. However, this whole beavertail stop upsets father, who is on a strict eating schedule and only eats during his appointed meal times, and he uses this incident as an excuse to be a crybaby for a good part of the rest of the day.

This would be the start of one of the least exciting parts of the trip for me: looking at all of the countries at Epcot. I am a ride/show ADDICT and can only go for so long at a Disney/Universal park without being on one. We end up walking through parts of some countries (China, Japan), while altogether skipping others (Italy, France). We skip the American Adventure, which I would have gone on, because tikimom slept on it the last time and that would make father a major candidate to do the same. Tikimom and I also found the pre-show of classical American tunes sung by colonially-dressed people to be very annoying during last year’s trip. The country that we spent the most time in turns out to be China, as they have a small museum, and brother spends a lot of time in the gift shop. My favorite gift shop of all the countries I’ve seen there would have to be Japan’s, as I am a Dragonball Z fan. Some of the drinks there also looked enticing, but not for the prices that they were being offered for there. 

The whole time we were at these countries, I would look down the road to the left in anticipation of the Norwegian section. This would be because of their Maelstrom Viking-style boat dark ride. By the time we arrived here, I was quite excited, and almost ran in line. There is also an interesting tidbit enjoyed by my family that can be viewed while waiting in line. One of the pictures on the mural looks exactly like someone who used to attend the same church we did. I was the only person who saw this last year (tikimom was at a conference and the other 2 did not go on the trip at all) but everyone agrees that the picture is almost an identical match. I took 3 pictures of this last year, so there was no need to do so this time around. However, when we were in line this trip, I noticed a 7 or 8 foot high barrier covering almost half the line that wasn’t there last May, and I’m wondering why they put that in there? Anyway, the ride is just as cool as I remember it, as I utter a mock scream at the “most terrifying” part of the ride, and saw some things that I did not remember the last time I was on this ride, such as the blacklit polar bear. [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] The area that you view and wait in at the exit reminds me and the rest of the fam of the Blue Bayou restaurant at Disneyland. But we have to stand there for about 10 or 15 minutes before they let us into the theater for the corny movie that we do not stay for (I learned my lesson about that on my last trip).

The 2nd most anticipated country by myself, Mexico, comes next. I did not see this area at all last year, and I wanted to catch a ride on their boat, too. The inside looks really nice, and very well themed. The restaurant appears to be a quality place to chill, especially on a hot day. The boat ride, however, is a huge disappointment, with the exception of the Small World spin-off and the fireworks show towards the end. We were actually mocking and laughing at this ride while on it, and everyone agreed that overall, it was terrible. I would go on it again, though. 

By the time we left Mexico, it was time for dinner, so we traveled back over to the Land. I had no problem going here, because I had eaten here last year and thought there was noting wrong with it. I order chicken fingers and fries, which were good but nothing too special or memorable. What WAS memorable, however, was the dessert. This is where I get to try my very first, highly-anticipated MICKEY BAR! The bar gets my vote for the finest ice cream bar I’ve ever tasted. The ice cream is so rich, and there’s just something about that dark chocolate coating… mmmmmm… Father also had a Mickey Bar, which he highly enjoyed. But naturally, tikimom had to take a few bites out of it, and she managed to get some chocolate all over her. This would come close to creating complete and utter havoc for me for about 2 or 3 minutes, as she had to run into the ladies’ room to clean up while the rest of us were looking at Spaceship Earth with absolutely little to no line at all. It was no big deal though, and we still walked ride onto that masterpiece of a ride with not really any wait.

Afterward, we went over to Cranium Command. This is something that father wanted to see because he is a big Robin Williams fan. I wasn’t too excited about going on this, because all the preview that you get of this would be that extremely annoying-looking kid on that sign when you are outside heading over to something like the Universe of Energy. The inside where Cranium Command is found looked like the Carnegie Science Center, and I wasn’t too impressed. On the other hand, we had no line and only a few minute wait for Cranium Command, and all of us ended up enjoying the show. It was entertaining and funny. I would go on this again.

The time had then arrived for our fastpasses to kick in for Test Track. We were all looking forward to going on this ride (first time for everyone except me); however, we ended up with disappointment. This is because the ride broke down twice, and the longer time being RIGHT BEFORE your car zooms out in the open, when you’re in the dark. That, coupled with a turd brother sitting behind me and that annoying “please remain seated” reminder that goes off every so often, made for a highly unpleasant few minutes.

At the conclusion of that ride, it was getting near time for the Tapestry of Nations parade: hated by myself, but adored by tikimom. This would result in us splitting up in 2’s: tikimom and father watching the parade, brother and I going on a ride or 2 and meeting them at China. We went on Spaceship Earth for the 3rd time [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] and got in line for the Maelstrom. However, the ride came down with a technical difficulty or 2 and we didn’t get to go on it. I said to brother, “I bet there are people stranded by the waterfall.” Sure enough, there they were when we went back outside. I wonder how and when they got off the boat. We met up, and ventured back to the ol’ hotel. [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

End of Day 2

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tikibird · 08-02-2001, 06:55 PM

tikiMOM? [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

Another great segment - thanks, and looking forward to the rest!

**Fortissimo** · 08-02-2001, 09:43 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> This is where I get to try my very first, highly-anticipated MICKEY BAR! The bar gets my vote for the finest ice cream bar I’ve ever tasted. The ice cream is so rich, and there’s just something about that dark chocolate coating… mmmmmm… <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>about beavertails and brother and I really want to try one, too. I get a chocolate hazelnut and sugar one (as well does tikimom) and Chris gets a maple and chocolate. The other 2 seem to enjoy theirs, but not quite as much as I enjoy mine. I found mine to be very good, and would not hesitate to get another during a future trip. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Gonzo, you are one smart young man! Are these two of the best treats in WDW, or what?

Your parents should be very proud of you, with your excellent taste in food!

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>I hate you. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

This is the exact same thing DH said to me when I handed him a cup of Beverly. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Once again, a great installment!

Cinderella_68 · 08-03-2001, 11:58 PM

Thanks for more TR, Gonzo! Looking forward to the next installment!

Beast_fanatic · 08-04-2001, 12:36 AM

Gonzo, I can't believe you fell for the Beverly! [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img]

It's nice to hear about the same trip from 2 different perspectives. Looking forward to the next installment (hint, hint)! [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

coffeechef · 08-05-2001, 09:04 AM

Loving your Trip report as well as Tikibirds
trip report. Keep them coming as they are my Pre-quel to our trip in only 9 MORE DAYS.

Belle* · 08-05-2001, 05:47 PM

OK, I lmow I'm going to sound dumb but what is "macroevolution"? I am, of course, familiar with evolution but have not heard of the "macro" version.

BTW, Great report Gonzo!!!! And as far as the treats, Beaver Tails, etc., just remeber Miss Piggy's advice - "Never eat more than you can lift"! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Gonzo · 08-07-2001, 10:28 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by Belle*:
OK, I know I'm going to sound dumb but what is "macroevolution"?
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

macroevolution- change from one species to another
microevolution- change within a species

MOT · 08-07-2001, 06:48 PM

Great trip report Gonzo! I love your reference to the Carnegie Science Center. We will be making our first trip to WDW this Nov. and didn't know what to expect at Innoventions but have been to the Science Center. Maybe next year, we'll see a collaboration report from you and "TikiMom".
How about Dad? Could you convince him to write a trip report? You and your mom have me hooting on how your dad is the food police. I would love to read his version too!

Keep it coming!!!!!