I'm a Maniac. Maniac. - **COMPLETE!! 5/23** About This Page:

[mestitch]

Originally Posted by amandal

Okay, I'm caught up now and I don't know what's funnier - people in the bushes or Jill's new siggie pic!!! Seriously - Hilarious . . . . . I'm with Eileen, speed it up or you're gonna TR overlap . . . . (I'm still waiting for a CLT PTR - it is only about 10 days away )

I know!!! I just sent Jill a message about that pic! I almost choked on my milk here when I saw it

And I agree...(not that I'm one to talk.. ) that you gotta speed it up before your other trip..... (again...not that I'm the best example of finishing TRs in a timely manner)...

[PrincessSharon]

Originally Posted by MattUGA

I wish I had read here before I left. I would have known it was you! I've read almost all your trip reports. You have the best style! I'm glad I got to "meet" you. LOL

This has convinced me that I have to remember to wear my PassPorter pin!

Originally Posted by disneydani

Love all the pics, glad you could let your love for Goofy flow!

Well when I'm by myself I do have a tendency to geek out.

Originally Posted by MattUGA

Okay crazy we were in MK at the 2nd Spectro in Fronteirland too. ha ha Dang!

Now I'm really curious about when else we may have crossed paths! Hopes Matt and Bethany didn't witness the geeking out

Originally Posted by Luvsun

Your pictures are wonderful! (I know you have probably been asked this a thousand times before, so sorry.........what kind of camera do you use?)

It's a Canon Powershot (A540)

Originally Posted by Caldercup

Promise that you'll never take a picture of ME like you did of Hyacinth Hippo. ('Course, there's no gator alive who could hoist me over his head with one arm! )

I make no such promises. If you ever find yourself hoisted over someone's (or some gator's) head, expect to have the photo posted in my TR.

Originally Posted by DawnDenise

Your pics of Wishes and Spectro are fabulous! Gotta love that "person" who was yelling and trying to get Goofy's attention.

Yeah, what a nerd "that person" was!

Originally Posted by Jillybean

First of all, how perfect was it that you had to be evacuated from ToT?!? They knew, I tell ya, they just knew! And that lady sitting beside you on ToT is a hoot - - who knew that ToT fans came in the Senior Citizen variety! How is she? You would sooner get my mom in an alligator pit than on ToT!

My entire family loved your pictures of the new Toy Story ride! We can't wait!

And your pictures from Spectro - - I swear I thought I was actually there for a second. What a doofus standing in the bushes with his baby!

Jill

First, Jill, I need to say I your new siggie! It totally made my day! And I can't wait to meet you maniacs! I was really impressed with that woman on TOT myself! She was fun to talk to! And I know y'all will love TSMM. I'm just worried that Maddie will get a higher score than me. I'd never live that down.

Originally Posted by christiejay

Great pictures!

So now that I have a similar camera to yours, please remind me:

flash or no flash for your nighttime shots?

Well, usually I don't use a flash. I didn't for Wishes. For Spectro, sometimes I do and sometimes I don't. This time I used the flash, but if you do use the flash you must remember to let the subject get close enough to you (I usually wait until they're about 10 feet away.)

Originally Posted by Caldercup

Great update! You might want to pick up the pace though -- our trip is quickly approaching.

Originally Posted by amandal

I'm with Eileen, speed it up or you're gonna TR overlap . . . . (I'm still waiting for a CLT PTR - it is only about 10 days away )

Originally Posted by mestitch

And I agree...(not that I'm one to talk.. ) that you gotta speed it up before your other trip..... (again...not that I'm the best example of finishing TRs in a timely manner)...

Sheesh! It's not like there's much more left to this one! No worries, I'll have it finished by the end of the week slavedrivers!

[janicelovesmickey]

ok hurry because, I swear, is it me or you got 3 back to back trips going on here??
and your goofy story is cute.

[doccoc2002]

Great pictures!!! I love the ones of Cinderella's Castle & the fireworks. Can't wait to read more!

[scdisneyfan]

OK! so i've been real slack and I've just caught up! Crazy i know! I just wanted to say that i think you rock with so many trips! You are so much fun that i hate some of our trips do not coincide but it looks like you have a lot of fans that want to meet up with you*L* I did want to make a few comments even though you are already back and almost done with this TR. Okay so i'm a super huge fan of TOT and i think that was amazing that you were able to get a behind the scenes look! But that woman next to you in that pic i will say, like others have said, is hilarious! See, i've always wanted to have one of those people in my pic so i can secretly laugh at them on my wall of disney pics for the rest of my life(which i have one of my friend but i'm limited on how often i can bring up the subject of that pic in front of her*LOL*) . Anway, i've always wanted to see behind the scenes at RNC. I'm dying to know what that place looks like with thelights on, but then again i'm afraid it might ruin my magic
So, far it looks like you have had such a good time! I'm really excited to try out the TSMM!
Your pics of everything are great! i'm so glad i finally caught up!

[disneybecky]

Great pictures the Goofy story and pic too cute, glad you were able to get his attention! Once again you have got me wanting a Dole Whip float.

[Nala]

Holy cow! I go away for a few days and I have missed half of a great trip report!

As always, great updates and amazing pictures. How cool that you got a back stage look of TOT.

[Eeyoresmom]

Wow! Disney should by those Spectro photos and create postcards (or maybe not buy them . . . maybe just offer you a free WDW trip for every photo they buy!)

- Can't wait till June!!!!

[PrincessSharon]

Day Three – Sunday, May 11
Quests Fulfilled and Unfulfilled

When I went to bed the night before, I hadn’t set a wakeup call. I decided that if I woke up early enough to be at DHS at park opening, I’d do that first and then head to Epcot after a spin or two on TSMM. If I slept in, I’d just head to Epcot.

I was up with the sun, so DHS it was. TSMM was on the to do list, as well as another trip into the Twilight Zone. I needed to make a purchase in Epcot thanks to this not-so-subtle hint.

Originally Posted by Caldercup

Oh, if only I knew of someone who was going on a secret trip soon.... ()

Originally Posted by Caldercup

I will simply expire from frustration if I can't get my little muddy paws on one of these gnomickeys!

Luckily, I can read between the lines, so I got the message. I also needed to seek out a particular Frozen Beverage, but more on that later.

And last on the list was the ESPN Club, as I’d been drooling over photos of the wings there, thanks to Karen (mattnkatsmum) and her TRs.

I packed up and got ready for the day. I only had one little bag, so I brought it down to be stored until I needed to catch the DME. Then I was on my way. I got a few pictures of Stormalong Bay with nobody in them.





I had good timing, as a boat was unloading just as I reached the dock. I was at DHS in no time and was quite happy to see that the crowds were not nearly as bad as they’d been the day before.

I was able to make my way through the crowd to position myself quite nicely for the “running of the guests DHS style.” When the rope dropped, I was happy to see the bulk of the crowd make a break for it down Sunset Boulevard. I got to Pixar Place quickly, and showed the CM my AP (and photo ID!). The line was much shorter than it’d been the day before. I’d say it only took 10 minutes to get through, where the day before it had been about 25-30.

I had a lot of fun again on the ride. This time we stopped at the last scene for quite a while. I decided to take a photo of the game. It’s not the best because it’s essentially a 3-D movie, but I put the glasses on my camera, so it’s decent.


You can see that all the targets are 0 points

We started back up again and I had my highest score yet (I managed to get a higher score each time I rode).


This time I was Player 1

And this is how I stack up to the other players:



I think if I can manage to crack 100,000 and get a different virtual prize, I’ll be happy! Since I’d gotten through so quickly, I decided I could ride again. Everyone who’d just gotten off with me decided to ride again too.

The line was longer, but still manageable. Unfortunately, after about 20 minutes, the line stopped moving at all. Then it was announced that there were technical difficulties and we needed to evacuate the building. We weren’t offered FPs for later or anything, I assume because of the ride being in soft opening. So I’d just have to try to break 100,000 on my next trip.

It was still pretty early, so I figured I could do RNRC and TOT. The standby for TOT was 20 minutes, but I could tell only one elevator shaft was working, and I knew that caused the lines to build up, so I decided to hit RNRC first. The standby wasn’t bad, but there was nobody in the Single Riders Line. I waited maybe 10 minutes (including the preshow).

When I exited RNRC, I could see that both sides of TOT were running, so I headed in. I walked right into the library, and then got to skip ahead of a bunch of people in the boiler room because I was a single rider! If they ever opened a Single Rider Line at TOT, I don’t think I’d ever spend any time anywhere else!

After that, I had one last look at my Tower ::sigh::



…and called it a day at DHS.

The Friendship was just pulling out as I arrived, so I just enjoyed the shade while waiting for the next one (I haven’t mentioned the weather a lot, but it was hot. Like 92° and humid! )

I enjoyed the ride to Epcot, and quickly made my way through the entrance. World Showcase had just opened (literally, it was 11:02). I had one thing in mind. Samantha Brown had talked about – Wait. I need to explain this. Samantha Brown is my idol. I mean if I ever met her, I’m sure we’d become Best. Friends. Forever. Come on, have you seen Samantha Brown’s Disney Favorites? I could have hosted it. Her favorite resort? AKL. Mine too. Her favorite ride? Tower of Terror. Just like me. And her favorite drink? An FB. I’m telling you. Me and Sam? BFFs.

Anyway, she talked about her favorite drink, which was a Grand Marnier Orange Slush, available at the little kiosk in France. Now we all know how much I enjoy a good FB, and this is one I hadn’t yet tried. I decided that since my BFF Sam loved it so much, I needed to try it more than anything else in the world. After a little internal debate, I decided that it was indeed late enough to start drinkin’! I mean, so it’s only 11 a.m. and Sunday. I’m on vacation! Unfortunately, to my utter disappointment, this is what I discovered…



Horror of horrors! It wasn’t open yet! I figured I’d console myself with a Kaki Gori, and started strolling towards Japan. I grabbed a few pictures in Morocco.





And then some more in Japan.





I thought the bonsai trees were stunning. I wish I could have one.





I was unable to drown my sorrows in shaved ice, because the Kaki Gori stand was closed too! So I figured I’d take care of that other item on my to do list. I headed to Future World to do some shopping.



I checked the garden center or whatever it’s called and they were out of the Gnomickeys. Since I’d struck out, I lifted my spirits with a spin on Test Track in the Single Riders Line.

Then I tried searching for Gnomickey at the little booths in the area between WS and FW and found the Gnomickeys (as well as several of the other garden statues) sold out! I asked the CM if they were at any other shops and she informed me that they were sold out everywhere, but that they hoped to get some more in before the end of the F&GF.

With that, I needed to take care of the rest of the items on my to do list (and no, I wasn’t obsessing about the Grand Marnier Orange Slush). In fact, I really wanted a Kaki Gori. But I needed to get the Grand Marnier Orange Slush. I couldn’t get both without risking severe brain freeze. So I decided on…





Brain freeze! I got the Kaki Gori and walked down to the little kiosk in France and finished it there, then walked right up and got the Grand Marnier Orange Slush. That Sam, she’s got good taste! Just like me! I’m telling you, BFFs!

I walked about 15 feet on my way to the International Gateway when a man came up to me and asked “What is THAT!?” It looks just as good as it tastes! I sent him to the little kiosk, then enjoyed my FB all the way to the Boardwalk. I don’t know if they’d let me bring it on the Friendship, but there wasn’t one there anyway, so I walked.

Continued…

[PrincessSharon]

I was finished with it just as I reached the ESPN Club. I checked in and as I waited for my table, I was puzzled by this (it’s right next to where you check in).



I’m not sure what they were trying to say here, but… Let’s just leave it at that!

I had a seat and settled in with the menu. I knew I wanted the Red Wings, but I also knew that they tended to be a giant-sized portion, so I figured a salad would be a good choice for an entrée.

When I looked up at one of the televisions, I immediately thought of Dyan (DyanKJ130). I’d caught the end of a commercial starring Bronson Arroyo! Upon my return, I PM’d Dyan to let her know she’d been “with me” at lunch, and she kindly offered to split the check.

I could’ve certainly used her help on the wings!


Red Wings

I got the mild, because I never know how “hot” is “hot.” I generally like them to be hot enough to clear your sinuses, and maybe bring a tear to your eye, but not so hot as to straighten your hair and make steam come out of your ears. Forget about the kind that makes you shoot fire! That’s dangerous! Unfortunately, that’s no help when looking at a menu. They were tasty, but I should’ve gotten “hot” (they come in mild, hot or flame).

I gave up about halfway through the wings and started on my salad.


Asian Chicken Salad

It was tasty, but I expected more of a ginger-y salad dressing, rather than the vinaigrette it came with. It’s not on the menu on AllEarsNet, but it had mandarin oranges, noodles, snap peas, grilled chicken and some other stuff I don’t remember.

I finished my meal and paid (using DDE discount). I strolled over to the Beach Club where I stopped at Hurricane Hanna’s for one for the road.



The sour apple freeze I’d gotten the day before was garnished with a strawberry because they were out of cherries at the moment. I had the same bartender as the day before, and I chatted with him a bit, then headed to a rocking chair on the porch to enjoy my FB.

Once I was finished with it, it was time to collect my bag and catch the bus. When it arrived, a bunch of families got on before me. I pulled out my iPod and put my little bag under the bus, which amused the driver a bit (and he was totally flirting with me ).

The bus was pretty full when I got on, but I was able to find a seat near the middle. Our driver told us we’d have two more stops, but we completely filled up at the Boardwalk, so that was it. I fell asleep on the bus and the next thing I knew, we were pulling up at the airport!

I collected my bags from the driver () and since I wasn’t checking, I headed straight to security. There wasn’t a line, and this time the lanes (for your level of travel experience) were more apparent, so people were lining up correctly.

I got to my gate with plenty of time to spare. Since SWA implemented their new boarding system, they’ve also redesigned their waiting area. There is now a “business center” area with comfortable chairs with electrical outlets and USB outlets next to each chair. I was able to get a live update posted, and then it was time to board.

The flight home was pretty bumpy, but I made it in one piece. So ends another Disney vacation.

Up Next: Final Thoughts and Ramblings

[amandal]

Great, great, great update, P-Sha!!! Couple of things -
1. You cannot have Sam she is mine all mine, besides you already have a BFF (I think her name might be Eileen, or something like that )
2. I am soooooooo getting a Grand Marnier Slush our first day at Epcot!!!! I am so glad my (real) BFF is coming with us now, cuz I'll have a buddy who can drink w me!! (Since my DSIL is prego )
3. Do you (or does anyone) know where I can get a Gnomickey online??? Or am I going to have to enlist a certain Fairy Godmailer who is going in - oh I don't know - approximately 8 days

[mestitch]

Another great update!!! I think you and I could definitely hang! All those FB's, TOT, and AKL. What a trip that would be!!
And that's it I have decided to get BOTH the Gran Marnier Slushie AND the Grey Goose thingy... why choose when you can have both?

[mestitch]

And for those wanting a Gnomickey and can't wait till their trip in about a week... or those that I won't see till August, let me know and I'll check, oh say.... in TWO DAYS!

[amandal]

Originally Posted by mestitch

And for those wanting a Gnomickey and can't wait till their trip in about a week... or those that I won't see till August, let me know and I'll check, oh say.... in TWO DAYS!

Hmmmm. . . . I think I will take you up on that, Melissa!!! I just had some landscaping done and I NEED A GNOMICKEY