Trip Reports

Cast: Tami and Britt (20's, several WDW trips)

Thursday August 26

"Tami and Britt, you've just bought a new house what are you going to do now? unpack? move in? perhaps paint a little?"

"No, we're going to Disneyworld!! (the house will still be there when we get back)"

So, we set the alarm for 3am, and we were out the door around 4:15am. Got to Orlando around 1 and decided to try a new way. After being stuck in a major traffic jam on I-4 in July, we decided to take the turnpike to Osceola Parkway this time. This did seem to swing us out of the way a bit which took longer, not to mention the tolls, but still it was better than I-4 and goes right by Publix. After a brief stop at Publix, we were at All Star Music about 2:00. They were redoing the entrance to the all star's and instead of being two lanes in and out, you entered through the exit and had one lane in and out. The room wasn't ready yet so we ate in the food court (yes, we used the mugs from a previous trip) and played some games in the arcade. We were then assigned a room in Calypso building 10. Close to the food court, pool, and All Star Movie resort. We walked over to see the Toy Story section of All Star Movies and took a swim in the Fantasia pool while we were over there.

After a brief rest, we were off to Epcot. This was our only night to see Off Kilter because they were off Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Had to renew the Annual Passes first. We actually paid less this year than last year with getting the renewal MKC rate this time and no discounts last year. Stopped to get some Bass in the United Kingdom, then we were off to visit the Margarita Bar in Mexico. Stopped in Morocco on the way to Mexico to watch the dancer. After having a strawberry margarita in Mexico, a storm came so we ducked in Norway till the storm passed. After the ride, it appeared not one person stayed to watch the movie (normally I watch the movie, but I had to go see Off Kilter). After another wonderful Off Kilter performance (do they ever give a bad one?), we watched Illuminations and walked on the boardwalk some before heading back to ASM.

Friday August 27

Slept a little late today since we were doing e-night tonight. Today's mission: ride rock and roller coaster and try fastpass. Never did try fast pass. There was virtually no line at all for R&R coaster. Rode once in the back (love the back because you do know when your upside down). Then, we went and saw Bear in the Big Blue House. Then back to R&R coaster for one more ride in the back and one in the very front seat (ok, I love the front seat too because there are no headrest in front of me). I couldn't believe how empty the park seemed compared to July. We didn't even have to wait very long for a table at the 50's primetime cafe. After a great meal with Cousin Lisa, we went back to ASM for a swim.

Here I have to mention what happened at the pool. Britt and I were sitting at a table sipping Pina Colada's by the kiddy part of the guitar pool. At the table next to us were two guys who appeared to be in their mid 20's. Anyway, one of the guys decides to change clothes right there and completely strips down (the Loin Inspection Board would have had a clear view of *everything*). I was sitting there with my mouth wide open but believe it or not I don't think one other person at the pool was paying attention to him. Ok, so I got a free show, next time I'm taking my camera with me to the pool

Sometime after 8, we went to catch a bus to the MK. After a twenty min. wait for a bus, we got to the MK around 8:50. Went to the tomorrowland arcade for our wristbands first, then headed to fantasyland. I got in line for Winnie the Pooh. Somehow Britt never made it in line behind me, but about 30 other people did. I wasn't going to lose my place to go look for him, so I rode by myself. This time I made it a point to find the Mr. Toad picture with owl. Britt was looking in the gift shop when I got out (said he didn't want to ride Winnie, how could you not like to ride Winnie??). He then joined me and we rode Snow White, Peter Pan, and IASW. Found a perfect place to the back left of the castle to watch Tinkerbell, then moved over behind the castle to watch the fireworks.

E-night: Started out the night with haunted mansion. For any of you who watched Seinfeld, I am now going to tell a story of a guy I will call Newman (he looked and acted like Newman would probably act.) Britt and I were walking up to the haunted mansion front door when Newman comes running right by us. I didn't think much of it, I just figured he was running up front to meet his family. So, we get in the stretch room, and Britt and I stand right where the doors will open up so we will be the first ones out and in the cars when the doors open. The doors open and Britt and I are about to where you board when Newman comes running by us so he can be in the first car. I cracked up, and here I thought he had been doing the running to meet someone. He was alone though. We were in the car right behind him and when you get to the part where the ghost rides with you, I looked over at him and had the biggest smile on his face. I wanted to follow him for a while just to watch what else he did. So, Newman goes over to Liberty Square and immediately declares out loud to no one in particular, "Alright man, the Stocks." He then put himself in the stockade. I could have watched Newman all night, but Britt was ready to go to Splash Mountain. We only rode once because it smelled really bad tonight for some reason. After Splash, we went on Buzz and Space Mountain. After grabbing a bite to eat at Casey's Corner, we were very tired and decided to cut e-night short and head back to the hotel. On our way out, I stopped by Guest Services to see if they had an official hidden Mickey list (they said Epcot does, but I never made it to their Guest Services). Guest Services was trying to please a couple in there arguing with them that all the restaurants closed for e-night and there was nothing to eat but hot dogs. Didn't hang around to see what happened, but Guest Services was trying really hard to please them.

Saturday August 28

Today's Goal: Missing Quote Challenge. If you've never done this, do. It was a lot of fun and I can't wait to do it again. There were two Missing Quote Challenges today. They started an hour apart, but each group had to be back at 2:30. We were in the early group with one other family and used all our time. I don't know how we would have had enough time if we were with the two families in the later group. Some things we had to do twice to get the answer too. Toward the end, Britt and I split up with the walkie talkies because we thought we wouldn't have enough time. I did Country Bears two times in a row and still couldn't understand where one of the bears was from, so a cast member finally helped me out. Did take a break around 12 for a dole whip and then a sandwich in Liberty Square. Britt did the steam boat twice to try to find the name of a cave that was hard to see because it was blocked by vines. We were told there are now 12 versions of the Missing Quote Challenge so on repeated plays you hopefully won't get the same game. Head of the line passes now have to be used on the same day they are won because they are being counterfeited. We missed one question and the other family missed the same question (about the name of a particular tiki god, we joked we should all go watch the tiki show again together to try to hear the answer). They chose the 6 passes and we chose the 3 and the parade with coke and popcorn. A family from the other group also chose the parade. (Something else I learned, when you get the head of the line passes, you can get them for people who didn't even play the game. A dad in the other group got passes for his family of 4 to use even though he's the only one who played the game and his family never appeared. They ask you how many people in your party to get in on the pass. I wonder what the limit is?) After watching the parade from our viewing area in Liberty Square, we set out to use our 3 passes (they can't be used on Pooh). Turned out some cm's didn't collect them so we used them on 5 rides: a roundtrip ride on the skyway, splash mountain (didn't smell bad today), thunder mountain, buzz lightyear, and space mountain. Oh, we also saw Newman again today waiting to board a raft to Tom Sawyer's Island. He still had a huge grin on his face. All these people at Disneyworld, and we actually did see the same people two days in a row. Sunday at AK, we ran into the family we watched the Mk parade with.

Saturday night we headed to Pleasure Island to see the first two comedy club shows. I still haven't seen WDW1972's favorite performer Laydin, but maybe next time. After the comedy club, we headed to World of Disney for some shopping, then back to the hotel.

Sunday August 29

Got up and took off for Animal Kingdom. We always start out with CTX first, no line. As many times as I've rode this, I have always rode in the exact same seat somehow (front left). Someday I will ride this sitting on the right side. Next was off to Kali River Rapids. Instead of the big geyser after the fog lift, there were now two smaller geysers on the sides. What happened to the big geyser? I liked it better! We got completely soaked on the first ride. I don't think there was a dry stitch of clothing on me. The people across from us didn't get wet at all hardly. Since we were already soaked, we stayed on two more times, but the people who didn't even get wet got off. As we got off and were walking completely soaked out the exit, it was funny to look at people just getting on seeing how wet we were with a look of fear in there face like, "Are we going to get that wet?" As we were walking through the tiger exhibit, the cast members were looking at us still dripping and saying welcome to Asia thank you for riding kali river rapids. The tigers were all asleep. I think the best time to visit them is in the evening. In the evening, they are awake and playful to see, but in the morning all you see is sleeping mounds of fur. At least that's been my experiences with them.

We were soaked, so we headed back to the hotel to put our clothes in the laundry room dryer to dry out a bit. We then went to Epcot and MGM on a quest to find this wedding bell my sister wanted. The cm's knew about this bell and said it was very nice, but was apparently sold out everywhere we looked (we also looked in the world of Disney and 2 hotel gift shops). Oh well, will give us something to look for again in December.

Got back to the hotel around 7 and went swimming then hung around the hotel. Went to bed early so we could get a early start home in the morning. 2 hidden Mickey's I found this time: sector 1 in the line of buzz lightyear. and pepperoni on the pizza menu at the All Star's.

Thanks for reading. Next scheduled trip: December, but will be the week after the RAPD meet

Tami Farmer

Thekat8@aol.com

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