September 8, 2013

Day 2

My first morning has me going to Boma for breakfast, like in years past. There is no direct way of going from Pop Century to Animal Kingdom Lodge. I need to transfer to a theme park first, with Animal Kingdom being the logical choice.

I lay out my clothes getting ready for today.

Notice the paper on the frig?? That is the paperwork saying I shouldn’t be using the frig.

My room number, home for the week.

I head towards the bus station for Animal Kingdom. In front of the large figure of Lady, from Lady and the Tramp, you have brick pavement, not smooth. As I drive over them, the scooter is shaking, even though I am going slow. I need to come up with a alternate way of bypassing the stretch of pavement.

I arrive at Animal Kingdom in plenty of time, drive over to where the bus picks you up for the lodge, after a short wait, I am on my way to the lodge for my breakfast at Boma.

I get seated in my usual location…. All the way in the back. Pretty sure the same table I sat in last year. Closer to the pool then the buffet, all the way by the windows.

Notice the hidden mickey in the chair?? Part of it is cut off in the photo, but it’s a hidden mickey.

I do find the omelet station. I don’t know why I didn’t have this last year. I have a special made omelet of just cheese and onions. In a couple of minutes, I have it. I do have other plates of scrambled eggs and bacon. They do have a special breakfast juice, but I stick with apple juice. I order another omelet, but without onions. The cook recognizes me, and says cheese and onion before I can order, but I just tell him American this time only. Paying for this meal should be a warning about trouble down the road. I sign a receipt for the tip to be charged back to the room, another receipt for the meal credit. When I was checking in, I saw the meal was sub $20. My pre trip homework made me thing it was more money, so I wasted a dining credit when I should have paid out of pocket for it, oh well.

After breakfast at Boma, I am back on a bus heading to the studios. My scooter on the bus.

I am using the awning all the time. So far no rain, but I guess helps keep the sun off of me. Perhaps that is why I am not complaining about the sun like others I am meeting J The awning does have another use. When on the bus and its crowded. I can tilt the back of the seat and the awning will cover the scooter, preventing people from sitting on it. The bus drivers don’t like people riding on the seats. I am not worried about the cost of any damage, as I have insurance on it. I am concerned about any time I might lose over it.

Entering Disney’s Hollywood Studios, I snap and share this photo of a ride… that you will never see me on J

When I enter the park, using my magic band, I don’t have any problems. Forgot to mention, today I am wearing my ‘Warriors’ t-shirt that I bought for this trip. I like when people comment on it. The guard who looks over my bag talks to me about the movie. It’s a classic. Tell him I am from Coney, thus the shirt. That makes my day. J

I head over to guest services to get my “Guest Assistance Card’ pass. No problems this time. I had a problem last year because of a language issue.

I have a Fasspass plus scheduled for around 11 am, so I head there and do that. When entering the queue, they ask if I am using my GAC pass, say no, I have a FP+, I put mickey to mickey twice and I am parking my ECV and boarding in the rear of the tram for the ride. I use Ustream to broadcast live, lets see how it worked.

As you can see, inside the building, I get drop outs due to poor signal. Not much I can do.

More people are asking me if I want to come out and play I ya J Have to have watched The Warriors to understand J But it makes me happy.

Afterwards I head over to Toy Story Midway Mania using my FP+ for the attraction. As usual, I arrive a little too early, so I try and waste a couple of minutes before entering the ride. At first they ask for my GAC pass, but I tell them I am using my FP+. I enter the queue with my scooter, and use the handicap entrance to the attraction. This is my score.

About average for me.

After Toy Story, I head over to do the Backlot Tour.

While on the way to the Backlot Tour a crazy woman runs out of Mama Melrose screaming Bruce. Ok.. kidding about the crazy woman part. You see, I posted a photo of this t-shirt outside Muppetvision.

Kelly… aka Tinkerkell from the TMFL boards was watching my Facebook updates, sees the above photo, knows I am close and looks for me. We say hi quickly as she is waiting to be seated to eat at Mama Melrose and couldn’t go far from the restaurant. She asks to take a photo with me, but understands I am photo shy, when I politely turn her down. It was nice meeting someone I chat with. I hope to meet some others while down here.

The last time I was here, they didn’t ask for volunteers. But this time they do. Here is a video I did a from a live Ustream broadcast.

Of course I have the usual problem of drop outs.

Then we board the tram after going through the prop warehouse. I just scoot through the prop warehouse and board the tram. I leave the key for the scooter and board the front section of the tram.

We go through the dress shop buildings and some props from some movies. With the release of Planes, they place eyes on the planes canopy’s, especially on the vintage WW2 prop planes. But I feel the plane Walt Disney used is going a little too far. Here is a video I created out of still photos.

So what do you think of adding eyes to the planes??

Here is the highlight of the Backlot tour, Catastrophe Canyon.

There are always talking about removing the backlot tour. Here is the second portion of the backlot tour showing some more of the bone yard.

I used You tube to select some music, hope its ok J

I now have a FP+ for Muppetvision 3D at 1:40 pm, so I head there. You really don’t need a fast pass as there is never a line. Entering the building, I am directed to the handicap line and waiting area. I pay ½ attention to the preshow on the TV screens, like I haven’t seen it over a dozen times already.

I park my scooter by the back wall and sit in a seat and enjoy the show. Ever notice when they are looking for Bean bunny, it’s the same kids who directs Sweetums to Bean bunny hiding in the balcony?? ;)

What I usually do on my first Sunday is this. I do the Fantasmic Dinner Package, watch Fantasmic, then park hop to Magic Kingdom which has extra magic hours till 12 or 1 am. When I arrive at the Magic Kingdom, I stop for a meal at Cosmic Rays to watch and enjoy Sonny Eclipse.

It is about 2 pm now. I have a 5 pm ADR at Hollywood and Vine for the Fantasmic Dinner Package. I figure I can get an hour or two rest back at my resort, so I head to the bus stations to head back to my resort.

I make it back into my room by 3 pm after stopping at the food court to make use of my refillable mug. I am leaving on the 16^th, but my mug is good till the 21^st.

I am back in my room and I find the frig was still plugged in.  I felt it was stupid not to use it, so I placed my yoohoos in it.  What is the worst that could happen?  They come, unplug it and that’s it.  The best, cold yoohoos. J

I left my room about 4:15 for a 5 pm adr at Hollywood and Vine.  I made it to the restaurant about 10 to 5.  It started to rain.  It was one of those interesting rain events.  To my right side, I can see the rain.  To my left, no rain.  After a couple of minutes, I was called in.  At first I couldn’t hear my name because the father next to me started to yell at his kids at that point.

I started with bread and some salad.  The only dressing they had that I liked was ranch, and there was hardly anything left.  But I was able to scoop enough for my salad.    One plate of food had three different types of chicken on it.  The waiter was good. I had another glass of diet soda before I finished the previous one.  They have two new things, a pasta bar and a chocolate fountain.

I had no idea about what a create a pasta bar is.  And I told the person manning it that. I figured no one was waiting, so no big deal.  First up, what additional things I wanted, I asked for cheese and onions.  They had other items like mushrooms and peppers.  He places a little oil and sautés the onions.  Then he asked which kind of pasta I want.  What do I know? I just know spaghetti and elbows.  So I chose one.  He places a bunch in a basket and either cooks or heats it while I wait about 3 minutes.  He places the pasta, adds the sauté then asks what type of sauce? I know of alfredo sauce, so I get that.  It was good.  Like a omelet station for pasta. Here is a photo.

And the photo of the chocolate station.

As you saw in my photo, at the chocolate station, they have someone stationed there to dip items into chocolate and let it harden.  I liked the marshmallows like that.  Some things I couldn’t ID, others I could so I had a bunch of those that I could.

My Fantasmic pass

When I got the receipt, I noticed it said I had 5 credits left, when means I used 4.  I can only think of three meals.  I went to guest services in the park after paying, they couldn’t tell me at that time except to confirm that it looked like I did use 4.  I will go to concierge at the resort to remedy this.

It was after 6 I finished with guest services.  I need to queue up for Fantasmic starting at 8 pm.  Not much I wanted to do, so I window shopped.  I bought some pins under the hat.  One was a special pin for Disney Visa holders.  They had a nice pin for AP holders, but I couldn’t get that one because I am not a AP holder, I did ask, couldn’t hurt.

I then went down to Tower of Terror.  They have a prop room from the TV series that I like to look at.  They now sell your souvenir photos in that room.  I started to talk to the CM there about the items. I don’t think she knows what going on there.  I mentioned the William Shatner episode about the gremlin on the plane.  That the plane is too big to be there, but she starts to look for one. Huh??

In the regular gift shop, they don’t have items with prices, but a color code system.  I couldn’t figure out where there was a explanation of what colors cost what prices, so I asked.  They had it on another table, that one place only in the whole store.  I don’t think they will sell any merchandise that way.

Another ride I wont go on J

At this point its about 7:30, so I head back to queue up for the Fantasmic dinner package entrance.  Another year, another way of doing it.  You enter the Fastpass entrance which is right next to the standard stand by entrance.  They are allowing standby people to enter from the street, but holding back the Fast pass till about 7:45. We went up further and were stopped again till about 7:55….

…..then allowed all the way into the theater.  Another year, another place to sit.  I sat right in the middle of the theater.  Usually we sit in the right side.

I parked my ECV so I can head straight out.  I start to walk down the seating and I almost feel my left ankle is going to collapse.  I have problems walking down stairs for months.  I need to hold onto the banister to support myself.  I figure I would trip and break my neck, but I wouldn’t die there, they would declare me dead at the hospital because no one dies on Disney property.  I would have made the news I am sure :)

I broadcasted it live on ustream.  Either people didn’t care, or didn’t know about it to view.  One person did watch for a minute or so.  But mostly holding the cell phone for nothing.

The ending was different.  Instead of the ferry with the characters on it doing there thing on it, they were on the mountain.  I found out from the a CM, they were doing a rehab on the boat and it should be back shortly. Here is the video from the Ustream Broadcast.

After the show, I waited till the majority of the crowd was gone.  Perhaps I left a different way or I never left the way I did before, but I left the way I entered.  It seemed better because at one point the pathway grew larger and that thinned out the crowed so I can move easier.

The show ended at 9, I made it to the TTC bus stop at 9:25.  Why the TTC??  Because for the last several years, I go see Fantasmic on a Sunday, the same day the Magic Kingdom has EMH till midnight.  Like Teyva the milkman says in Fiddler on the Roof, its tradition for me, so I do it.  Whenever I went to Disneworld, I always seem to go the Magic Kingdom first at night.

There is a bus that just started to load and the queue was full.  The driver looked like he was going to stop loading, but I told him, I will wait for the next bus.  He was happy.  The next bus showed up about 10 minutes later.  Everyone who entered had seats.

I make it to the TTC about 10 pm.  I didn’t know what transportation was running from the TTC to the Magic Kingdom.  As I approached the express monorail, a cm closed the line, told me to head to the resort monorail.  As I entered the resort monorail, Wishes started.  A monorail approached within a minute or two.  We were delayed getting into the Magic Kingdom station. Wishes was still going on.

Fighting the exiting crowd was bad.  Worst going under the train station.  After the train station, I hugged the right side of the park.  As I approached Main Street, a family decided to hold a reunion right at the sidewalk cut.  There were too many people walking on the sidewalk anyway, so I stayed on the street till I could make the right to head to the Tomorrowland Terrace.  It was slow going most of the way.  By the time I got past the terrace, it opened up and I was able to go full speed.

As my tradition, I went to eat a cheeseburger meal and watch Sunny Eclipse.  This is now 10:30.. 10:45 at night.  A mother was overwhelmed with her three kids in front of me.  They were too young to be up so late at night.  She finally gets to get her food.  I see the tray with my food sitting there, but I cant get to the counter to get it.   She and her kids are in the way.  They finally get the missing item, a kids size fry.  meanwhile the person behind the counter looks at tray of food, takes the soda and the dessert from the tray and moves the tray back to the kitchen area.  At that point another worker looks at my ticket and starts to look for the tray. I say, I think she just gave it back to the kitchen.  She looks at the receipt on the tray, it is my food.  She then grabs another dessert from the frig, and starts to look for my soda, large diet with no ice.  The person who is responsible for filling out the drink orders also goes on the hunt for my soda and find it on the counter right in front of them. I grab my food and head to the fixings bar. I place sautéed onions, raw onions and lettuce on the burger. I take the bun, I intended to just place mayo and ketchup on it, but I hit the mustard button by accident, not realizing till I see the color coming out of it.  I then place real mayo and ketchup, and fill up about 3 little ups for cheese and head for a table by Sunny.  I forget a straw.  So I just remove the lid and drink it very careful like that. 

At this point its about 11:30, park closes at 12:00.  Not enough time to do anything.  So I first went next door to the gift shop for the new park music cd.  One of the workers comments about my t-shirt, says there is a Coney Island in Michigan.  Actually she is the second person today to tell me that today.  Another  time at a bus stop (forget which one) another girl who looks a little young to know about The Warriors (movie) likes my shirt too, asks where I got it.  In Coney Island of course.  I asked the CM worker where can I find the new CD, she thought the new music cd’s were on display, but werent.  She looked in the back, couldn’t find any. suggested the emporium, I told her, not tonight, will go tomorrow, thanked her for looking and headed back to my ECV and left the park.

Pop Century bus station at Magic Kingdom is number 17.  Its 11:40, and the crowd for pop is backed up to #15.  I am in big trouble, and the park isnt closed yet.  The people in front of my counted 4 buses came and went before he got close enough to board one.  There were two scooters and two wheelchair parties waiting to board.  This bus driver preferred to drive the ECV’s onto the bus himself.  So I let him.  The two wheelchair parties left the wheelchairs at the bus station.

I got back to Pop about 1.  Concierge was closed, but I went to the check in counter with my table service credits question.  They confirmed that the system reported 4 credits used, but couldn’t tell me where, I need to ask concierge when they open at 7am.

I went back to the room. I find a new towel animal left by my sink….

The frig was still plugged in, had a Yoohoo and started to type this email.  Its almost 2:30 am.  I have a adr for Crystal Palace at 9.  See if I am going to make it or not :)  ECV is charging already.  Need to charge extra cell phone batteries, take a quick shower and hope to be in bed with the lights out at 2:45 the latest.