Canadian Buffoon's Hi Low Vacation - South Central Musings

[pkondz]

Home and Away


A big thank you to all of you who
suggested Motorcycle Licence plates.
Everyone who did got bonus points.

Bonus-palooza!
I'm going to list all the suggestions
and you guys vote for your fave.
Anyone who votes will receive bonus points.
No voting for your own plate idea!
(This will result in a deduction, so beware!)
The winner will receive more bonus points.
The one I pick will receive bonus points too.
And the one I pick may not necessarily
be the majority pick.

It's my bike. I have to live with it!


And... just an FYI.
While PONZI does seem to be the logical choice,
I am not known outside this forum.
(I must admit that there is
a certain amount of appeal.
If I were riding in your neck of the woods
and you spotted me, you'd know
immediately who it was.)

But... well, I don't necessarily want to be
associated with ponzi schemes and have people
throwing rocks or feces at me.

Or rocks covered in feces.
That would probably be worse.


Plates:
PONZI
PKONZ
CRI6 (crisis)
GRMPS (gramps)
MOUSE
MICKE (Mickey)
TINK
P PAN (Peter Pan)
CRISE (crisis)
BOON
MINE
MLCRS (mid life crisis)
CDBFN (Canadian buffoon)
CRISI (crisis)
U4EA (euphoria)
BADAZ (bad azz)
CRAZY
PHASE
DREAM
MAGIC
OLDUN (old-un)
BFOON (buffoon)
DWHIP (Dole whip)
MDLI4 (midlifer)
PDUST (pixie dust)
ODEAR
999HH (999 happy haunts)
LTOON (looney toon)
FREDM (freedom)
1TOGO (one to go)
WANDR (wander)
RDDEN (ridden)
SCORE
ESCPE (escape)
OPNRD (open road)
W84IT (wait for it)
MERMN (merman)

And some of mine:
4U2NV (for you to envy)
IRIDE (I ride)
MVOVR (move over)
L8TER (later)



(If I missed yours, let me know
and I'll add it in.)

You have until the next update
to make your pick.
Feel free to pick up to three,
if you wish.


Also apologies in advance,
this update will be noticably
bereft of photos.


----------------------------------------------


I love sleeping in.... it happens so seldom.
And yet... I'd prefer to sleep in on a day
when I'm not leaving Disneyworld.

Still... waking up around 7:30am
while I'm in Disney is pretty rare.
And pretty sweet.

But not sweet enough.
I woke up at seven thirty...
and then I rolled over and went
back to sleep until the alarm
woke me up for good at eight a.m.

I spent the next little while
just taking my time, packing
and getting ready to go.
No rush. Tons of time.

I noticed a light blinking on my phone.
Hmmm... hadn't noticed that last night.

I listened to the message and...


Remember back in the Cretinous period
of this TR when I had to get
a new credit card?
Well, apparently Disney didn't have that info.

I seriously considered just skipping town,
but then I thought if I did that....
they might not let me back in town.


Still..... verrrrry tempting.

(A few days later...
"Hello Mr. Pkondz?
This is Disney calling.
There appears to be an issue
with your account?

Me: "Pardon? Je m'excuse, mais
j'ne parle pas l'Anglais.")


Yeah... better not.

Dang.


I headed over to the front desk...
which was spitting distance from my room
(Okay, the farthest spit on record is
nineteen and a half feet...
but the farthest cherry stone spit
is ninety three feet, so totally true.)
and cleared up the bill.



Beaucoup hesitation though.



As I sashayed back to my room
to gather up my belongings,
I saw the DUD bus arrive.
It was about 9:51am... four minutes early.
Well it would have to wait.

I returned to the bus stop on time
at 9:55 and, with much hesitation,
and with not a little bit of regret...
boarded.


There really ought to be some sort
of prize, or reward for boarding that bus.
It's so demoralizing and depressing.

"Welcome aboard! Here's $1,000!"

Yeah okay. That wouldn't do it.
But I very much doubt even Disney
could afford to pay me enough
to make boarding DUD sting a little less.


Arriving at MCO, I made the long,
forty two mile long trek
to the WestJet counter.
It wouldn't open for another 10 minutes.


Thank goodness we left four hours early!!


It was a long 10 minutes.
As you can imagine, there are a lot
of kids on these flights.
That morning, all you could hear was
constant screaming and yelling.

"I don't wanna go!"
"I wanna stay here!"
"Waaahhh!!!"

Eventually someone told me to shut up
and I did and it was quiet again
and the kids could nap.


I got myself checked in and headed over
to security.
(The days when I get myself checked out
are long behind me.)

Ever notice that there's always someone
(or someones) who can't follow simple directions?
Come on people.
Take your shoes off, take your crap out of your pockets
and take your laptops out.
But no. Every time.
Thanks for holding everyone up.


I eventually went through the nude scanner
(sorry security, your eyes will eventually heal
if you haven't plucked them out.)
collected my crap and headed over
to the fake-O-rail.
I hate taking that thing back.
It's the bees knees on the way in...
But out?.... Just... no.


I was a bit hungry and a bit thirsty
so I decided to grab a snack.
I grabbed a magazine too for the flight,
(gotta feed the mind too) but...

While I was grabbing my snack and mag,
the rest of Orlando decided to get in line
at the cashier.
I stood there for a second and....


I always tell my kids not to be sheep.
Don't just dumbly follow the herd.
Sometimes there are better ways.


I was standing by the cash
when I witnessed this exchange.
Clerk 1: "Can you open up your till?"
Clerk 2: "No, I can't."
Clerk 1: "Why not? We've got the entire
population of Orlando in line."
Clerk 2: "Because the boss said to count
these doodads, so I have to do that."

She wouldn't open her till and serve all
the customers because she had to count
some crap that she could count anytime of day?
Baaaaahhhhh.....


I dumped my stuff where I was standing and left.
That one dumb clerk had cost her boss some business.
Probably others went elsewhere too.


I walked a few feet across the hall
to a Mexican quick serve and grabbed a Coke.
Then I snagged a muffin from Starbucks.
Neither place had anyone in line.
Done in less than two minutes.

With snack in hand, I sashayed down to
the mysterious gate 13.
The sign saying 'gates 10-15 ahead'
was still there just a few feet past it.

I sat and surfed and munched.
I had tons of time due to the
ridiculous four hours Disney insists
it takes to get to the airport.

(Yes. Four. International flights
get the added bonus hour
even though it takes the same
amount of time to check in and
go through security as a domestic flight.)

The plane arrived a bit late
and seemed to take a long time
to unload and load.
But I got onboard and took my seat
in row one.

Pretty sure we got airborne not too late.
Late... but not excessively so.

I was hungry again, and since it's included,
I scarfed down a roast beef sandwich on
marble rye with a side fruit salad.
I also decided to sip on a Caesar.
I was on a plane.
When we land it will be five pm.
I passed the time munching,
drinking, and watching Big Hero 6.
Cute movie.


We landed in Toronto just 10 minutes
late at 5:05pm. See? After 5!
Caesar justified!


Except... My connecting flight was
at 6:15pm...
And I had to clear Customs,
retrieve and check my bag,
go through security
and find my gate.

Want to follow along?
I'll even provide a handy dandy map.

I can't say for sure, exactly which gate
we arrived at, but it was probably C34.
See it?

It's at the bottom left of the lower arm on the map.
I had to walk from there to customs.
Customs is the little man with his hand up.
If you can't find him, he's at the end of the arm.
The armpit of the Terminal, if you will.
The distance from the gate to customs
is about one thousand feet.
That might seem like a fair distance to walk,
and it might be... I wouldn't know.

I ran.

Well, okay. Full disclosure.
I didn't exactly run.
But pkondz's fast walk
is a lot faster than a lot
of people can run.

People... I move.

I know that it's a pretty rare
individual that can keep up
with me when I put it in that gear.


Arriving at customs,
I encountered a long line
of refugees from sunnier climes
and faraway places.

Luckily the line moved
quickly and efficiently
and I set out once again
to retrieve my bag.

I wondered if my bringing
my costume
(necessitating a suitcase)
would cause me to miss my flight?


At the carousel of hope and despair,
I spy several bags, valises and
beat up boxes littering the floor.
Yes! The bags are already here!

Okay. So I was naïve.
Leave me alone.

These parcels were all from London.
Not my flight.


I wandered over to the WestJet desk
and asked what my chances were
of making my connecting flight.
They assured me that I had time.


I wonder if they always lie like that,
so that you won't bother them?

Probably.


People began showing up
and I hated each and every one of them.
I should have had my bag and been gone.
No offense... but I didn't want to see them again.

The bags started to be barfed onto
the conveyor belt and I was not pleased
to see that it wasn't first
(Oh, come on... just one time!)
but it did show up within
the first 10 bags or so. Score!

I didn't pause to celebrate.
I quick/walked to the bag drop off,
and set out in search of the
departure gates.

I saw a sign with an arrow pointing up.
"Departure gates B C D E F G"

I have no idea which one I need.
My boarding pass didn't list it
and I didn't see a departure board
anywhere near by.
But I did see someone who looked
like a WestJet attendant and asked.
I was told that all gates were here.


The line at security was long and slow.
I was fortunate enough to be directed
to what appeared to be the longest line.


Yay.


Okay... Now I really have to move!
Luckily, once I figured out which gate I needed,
I knew my gate would be close.
Okay. Just look at the signs here...
My gate is at #2, and this is the B area,
so it will be the second gate! Yes!
So... walk up to B1... except it's not.

It's B23.

ohhhh......

You thought I was moving fast before?

I have to get to the other end!

As I'm more running than walking now,
I almost miss it.
Between gates 19 - 20 is a set of stairs
with a sign pointing down that says
"Gates A1, A2 - A6"
That's me!!

There's a mom with a small child
trying to get on the escalator.
I run... not walk, down the stairs.
There is an extraordinarily long
hallway that must be traversed.
I'm puffing pretty good
by the time I traverse it.
At the end of the hall...
Thank goodness. An escalator.

Except there's an elderly couple
standing in front of it,
trying to figure out where
the stairs are coming from.

I have zero time to waste
So I sprint up the stairs instead.


I know myself fairly well.
I estimate that my heartrate
was somewhere between 170 - 180bpm.


I look to my right, A6
I look to my left...
Another loooong hallway.

Cardiac arrest be darned.
Gotta move!

There are moving slidewalks,
but they're full of people standing,
not walking.
I ain't got time for that.

I start down the hall.

Halfway down I hear:
"Your attention please.
This is a final boarding call
for WestJet flight 529 for Winnipeg.
All passengers should now be on board."


Now I start to run.
A moment later, Gate A2 hoves into sight.
An attendant looks up and says:
"Winnipeg?"
I couldn't speak so I just nodded.
Probably just as well.
If I could've spoken
I probably would've said.
"Nope! Just out for a jog!
I always jog in airports!"

I got on the plane
and collapsed in my seat.
Made it!


I honestly don't know why
they allow that connection
to be booked.
Maybe they think only
Olympic sprinters will.


The flight was mercifully dull.
I watched Wolverine Origins I think.
I don't even remember.
Guess it wasn't that good.
I ate some snacks from their Tapas box.
Pretzels, fruit snacks, things like that.
Ginger ale to wash it down.

Or wash myself.
I was sipping my drink and
felt a bit dribble down my chin.
I don't normally have a drinking problem.
Another sip. More dribbling. Geez!

I let the glass sit for a bit and...
there's a puddle on my tray.
The glass had an invisible crack in it.
Sure. As if it wasn't enough
that I have to leave Disney!!
Now this! Oh, the ignominy!


The flight arrived a bit early
at 8:33pm and... no Ruby in sight.
Did she forget?
Nope! There she is.
Just a little late.

About 30 minutes later,
I'm home.


But not for long.

We have another flight to catch
on the morrow.

This trip (and hence this TR)
is only halfway done!



Contest

My Big Fat Canadian Bonus:
I ride Disney transportation
nineteen times this trip.

What is my total time spent waiting
for Disney Transportation?

Guesses:
(Final tally: 103 minutes)
Gracefulskinny - 60
Thumper_Man - 72
queenbetsey - 78
Mrs T 2009 - 86
MAGICFOR2 - 94
jandlinz - 96
DaisyDuck001 - 103 We have a winnah! +20 points!
franandaj - 111
Terra Nova guy - 116
afwdwfan - 123
juniorbugman - 124
Mac Brew - 127
Heluvsme - 128
Thumper_Man's Wife - 130
chookie94 - 132
Steppesister - 135
kaileighbug - 137
SnowWhiteOz - 138
irene_dsc - 139
tashers - 144
rndmr2 - 146
fallonkendra - 150
Captain_Oblivious - 153
Chrystmasangel - 158
bankr63 - 165
DonnaBeeGood - 167
cinderkelly - 175
Curiouser&curiouser! - 177
orangecats2 - 180
vrajewski10513 - 182
DISNEYMOON10121991 - 184
chillitsanne - 196
GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes - 234




Answers to previous questions:

Did you see them?

Snow removal services provided by pkondz

Marvin looks on and prepares to obliterate us.

1. What time does the infernal alarm go off?
Answer: 8:00 Nailed it 15 points. +-15, 10 points. +- 30, 5 points. +- 60, 2 points.

2. How long do I wait for DUD (Disney's Un-magical Depress)?
Answer: 0 minutes. Nailed it 10 points. +- 5, 4 points. +- 10, 1 point.

3. I watch a Disney animated movie on the flight. Which?
Answer: Big Hero 6. 10 points.

4. Connecting flight. Do I make it?
Answer: Barely! 4 points.

5. How do you take your coffee?
Answer: 4 points.



DonnaBeeGood - 2:15, 8, Zootopia, yes, coffee, saw one, plate - 17 points.
afwdwfan - 3:45, 20, Big Hero 6, yes, coffee, plate - 22 points.
mustinjourney - 2:00, 5, Finding Dory, yes, coffee, saw one - 22 points.
Curiouser&curiouser! - 3:45, 13, Wreck it Ralph, yes, coffee - 8 points.
Gracefulskinny - asked for points, 4:00, 5, Inside Out, yes, coffee, plate, saw one - 22 points.
Mrs T 2009 - 5:45, 6, BFG, yes, coffee, plate, saw both - 21 points.
rndmr2 - 5:00, 5, Big Hero 6, yes, coffee, saw both - 30 points.
orangecats2 - asked for points, 2:00, 15, Zootopia, yes, coffee, plate, saw both - 22 points.
irene_dsc - 3:15, 36(!), Zootopia, yes, coffee, plate, saw one - 16 points.
DaisyDuck001 - 5:20, 10, Up, yes, coffee, plate, saw one - 17 points.
fallonkendra - 2:00, 7, Zootopia, yes, coffee, saw both - 17 points.
Captain_Oblivious - asked for points, 8:00, 13, Zootopia, yes, coffee, plate, saw both - 37 points. High score!
Heluvsme - plate - 4 points.
franandaj - asked for points, 2:15, 8, Frozen, yes, coffee, plate, saw both - 23 points.
Terra Nova guy - 2:30, 13, Zootopia, yes, coffee, plate, saw one - 16 points.
Mac Brew - 6:45, 15, Finding Dory, yes, coffee, plate, saw both - 20 points.
juniorbugman - 2:30, 21, Muppets, yes, coffee, plate, saw both - 20 points.
cinderkelly - asked for points, 3:30, 10, Frozen, yes, coffee, plate, saw both - 23 points.
Steppesister - 1:30, 10, Finding Dory, yes, coffee, plate, saw both - 21 points.
MAGICFOR2 - 2:45, 5, Toy Story 3, yes, coffee, saw one - 16 points.
Chrystmasangel - 2:00, 8, Wreck it Ralph, yes, coffee, plate, saw both - 21 points.
Princess Leia - saw both - 8 points.
DISNEYMOON10121991 - 2:00, 38, Zootopia, yes, coffee, plate, saw both - 20 points.


As usual, if I've made any mistakes,
either above or below, let me know.


Bonus points
afwdwfan - Loss for words. 2 points. Thieving birds. 2 points.
mustinjourney - Particularly punny person perhaps. 2 points.
Curiouser&curiouser! - Cleans up well. 2 points.
Gracefulskinny - Takes out the rubbish. - 2 points.
orangecats2 - Knows I send 'em packing. - 2 points.
Captain_Oblivious - Push/pull - 3 points.
Heluvsme - Fonzi. 2 points.
irene_dsc, - Knows who's cool - 3 points.
franandaj - Plate holder. - 8 points. Knows a good ending. - 2 points.
Terra Nova guy - Knows a good shirt when he sees it. - 2 points.
Mac Brew - In hibernation. - 2 points.
DISNEYMOON10121991 - Always on her mind. - 2 points.
cinderkelly - Tries not to be mortified. - 2 points.
Steppesister - Thinks I'm warped. - 2 points. Loyalty points. - 4 points.
MHSweb79 - Hopefully felt less pulley. - 2 points.
MAGICFOR2 - 'Cause she kneeds it. - 2 points.
Chrystmasangel - Points for asking for points. - 2 points. For being ignored. - 4 points.
DISNEYMOON10121991 - Sounds like a mom. - 2 points.


Score
Steppesister - 263 points
franandaj - 252 points
orangecats2 - 251 points
DISNEYMOON10121991 -228 points
Captain_Oblivious - 223 points
DonnaBeeGood - 190 points
irene_dsc - 188 points
juniorbugman - 181 points
Thumper_Man - 179 points
Thumper_Man's Wife - 177 points
Mac Brew - 173 points
Gracefulskinny - 172 points
Terra Nova guy - 168 points
Chrystmasangel - 165 points
rndmr2 - 165 points
MAGICFOR2 - 153 points
Mrs T 2009 - 153 points
fallonkendra - 147 points
GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes - 143 points
jandlinz - 140 points
cinderkelly - 136 points
queenbetsey - 135 points
mustinjourney - 134 points
DaisyDuck001 - 132 points
Curiouser&curiouser! - 126 points
chookie94 - 122 points
afwdwfan - 121 points
Heluvsme - 96 points
bankr63 - 87 points
tashers - 84 points
chillitsanne - 57 points
Princess Leia - 44 points
natebenma - 39 points
SnowWhiteOz - 30 points
SoccerDogWithEars - 30 points
vrajewski10513 - 30 points
kaileighbug - 28 points
krnelson65 - 22 points
lisaviolet - 18 points
MHSweb79 - 13 points
QueenJen - 10 points
cindianne320 - 4 points
Ladyfish77 - 4 points
KathyM2 - 3 points
MarieLightning - 2 points
Self_resqing_princz - 2 points


Questions, next round:

1. I do laundry
(please, keep your gasps of astonishment to yourselves.)
Those shorts salveagable or red for good?

2. What critical item did I leave in Florida?

3. What snack, that is worth coming to Canada for
do we get?

4. Flight. Calgary, AB or Edmonton, AB?

5. Flight. Early, on time, or late?

6. What's your favourite movie?


Coming up: Off to Alberta!

Chapter 10. Here and There​

 

[Steppesister]

Cool beans!!!

 

[orangecats2]

Oh! Thanks!
But... Maybe not worth the price
of the postage?
Appreciate it if you do,
but no worries if you don't.

We'll see. Do you like any other characters?

No way!!!
That's so cool!
Good luck with that!
What would you be doing??

Most likely DW resort booking, payments, that sort of thing. Possibly dining but that training costs more. The think I don't like is that because I won't work directly through Disney I won't get any discounts.

The contest continues...

Well, it's good so I can try to get ahead but what do I know about Banff? It will all just be straight guessing!

 

[DaisyDuck001]

Wow, OMG, I was excited to win the guess for total minutes spent waiting for busses!

With that 20 bonus points and 17 points for the guesses from the last update, wouldn't that put my new total points at 140?

As for other people's ideas for your plate, I like OPNRD, WANDR, and MDLI4.

1. I do laundry
(please, keep your gasps of astonishment to yourselves.)
Those shorts salveagable or red for good?

red for good

2. What critical item did I leave in Florida?

phone charger

3. What snack, that is worth coming to Canada for
do we get?

Something from Tim Horton's?

4. Flight. Calgary, AB or Edmonton, AB?

Edmonton

5. Flight. Early, on time, or late?

late

6. What's your favourite movie?

Field of Dreams

 

[rndmr2]

Glad you were able to get the credit card thing straightened out

You are lucky you made your 2nd flight with the first one being late

Looking forward to the next leg of the trip

Plate votes:
BFOON
999HH
BADAZ

1. I do laundry
(please, keep your gasps of astonishment to yourselves.)
Those shorts salveagable or red for good?------------------------- salvagable

2. What critical item did I leave in Florida?---------------- charger

3. What snack, that is worth coming to Canada for
do we get?--------------------------Poutine

4. Flight. Calgary, AB or Edmonton, AB? -------------Calgary

5. Flight. Early, on time, or late? ---------------- Late

6. What's your favourite movie?---------------non Disney- Steel Magnolias, Disney- Little Mermaid or Tangled

 

[Mrs T 2009]

1 Shorts are salvageable- need to stay my optimistic self.

2. charger

3. poutine

4. Calgary, AB

5. on time

6. This is hard, because I have a few ultimate favorites.
BUT, if I needed to choose one movie,
I'm going to choose 2.. I can't pick one from these both::
Under the Tuscan Sun & Viva Las Vegas ( I'm a sucker for Elvis and Ann Margaret, especially together)

License plate picks:
WANDR
MAGIC
MVOVR

 

[Curiouser&curiouser!]

8am! That is shockingly late! I didn't stand a chance!

Bus or car- doesn't really matter. Leaving Disney is THE WORST.
Airports are the WORST.
Security is the WORST.

At lease you are leaving again right away!!

Okay. For the Plate, my favorites are:
CDBFN
PDUST
L8TER

And my guesses:
1. Red for good. But you will still wear them!
2. Toothbrush
3. Donuts from Tim Horton's
4. Calgary
5. Late
6. It changes, but right now The Muppets because my kiddos are obsessed with it and I love watching them giggle through the whole thing.

 

[Gracefulskinny]

Bonus-palooza!
I'm going to list all the suggestions
and you guys vote for your fave.
Anyone who votes will receive bonus points.
No voting for your own plate idea!
(This will result in a deduction, so beware!)
The winner will receive more bonus points.
The one I pick will receive bonus points too.
And the one I pick may not necessarily
be the majority pick.

My Picks: *Even though P Pan I think is still the best fitting for you I can't pick it cause it was my suggestion.

IRIDE (I ride)

FREDM (freedom)

PDUST

Eventually someone told me to shut up
and I did and it was quiet again
and the kids could nap.

Ever notice that there's always someone
(or someones) who can't follow simple directions?
Come on people.
Take your shoes off, take your crap out of your pockets
and take your laptops out.
But no. Every time.
Thanks for holding everyone up.

Or in my case its There's always one at the HOA meeting that just doesn't want to listen and asks the same question 30 different ways beating a dead horse until it twitches.

I had tons of time due to the
ridiculous four hours Disney insists
it takes to get to the airport.

If its that much over on time why not just take a taxi or uber? Sure its an extra fee but it does mean more time on Disney Property.

I also decided to sip on a Caesar.

Sip on a ceasar? You drank Caesar Salad dressing? I mean to each their own!

Except... My connecting flight was
at 6:15pm...
And I had to clear Customs,
retrieve and check my bag,
go through security
and find my gate.

Well, okay. Full disclosure.
I didn't exactly run.
But pkondz's fast walk
is a lot faster than a lot
of people can run.

People... I move.

I wonder if they always lie like that,
so that you won't bother them?

PRobably!

but it did show up within
the first 10 bags or so. Score!

My gate is at #2, and this is the B area,
so it will be the second gate! Yes!
So... walk up to B1... except it's not.

It's B23.

ohhhh......

Except there's an elderly couple
standing in front of it,
trying to figure out where
the stairs are coming from.

I got on the plane
and collapsed in my seat.
Made it!

I let the glass sit for a bit and...
there's a puddle on my tray.
The glass had an invisible crack in it.
Sure. As if it wasn't enough
that I have to leave Disney!!
Now this! Oh, the ignominy!

You just had All the luck didn't you?!?

This trip (and hence this TR)
is only halfway done!

Marvin looks on and prepares to obliterate us.

Tricky tricky!

Gracefulskinny - Takes out the rubbish. - 2 points.

Score
Steppesister - 263 points
franandaj - 252 points
orangecats2 - 251 points
DISNEYMOON10121991 -228 points
Captain_Oblivious - 223 points
DonnaBeeGood - 190 points
irene_dsc - 188 points
juniorbugman - 181 points
Thumper_Man - 179 points
Thumper_Man's Wife - 177 points
Mac Brew - 173 points
Gracefulskinny - 172 points

1. I do laundry
(please, keep your gasps of astonishment to yourselves.)
Those shorts salveagable or red for good?

Mostly yes

2. What critical item did I leave in Florida?

tripod

3. What snack, that is worth coming to Canada for
do we get?

Uhhh..... Tim Hortons? (that doughnut shop you've mentioned.) Beaver Tails??? (I feel like I am totally wrong about this being a thing!)

4. Flight. Calgary, AB or Edmonton, AB?

AB

5. Flight. Early, on time, or late?

On time

6. What's your favourite movie?

The Princess Bride

 

[irene_dsc]

But... well, I don't necessarily want to be
associated with ponzi schemes and have people
throwing rocks or feces at me.

I kinda figured that! I seem to remember an awkward conversation trying to explain your nickname to dh. "Whaddya mean you have a friend named Ponzi???"

MAGIC

999HH

Those are my votes. If you do 999HH, you need to get the license plate holder Alison posted, however!

She wouldn't open her till and serve all
the customers because she had to count
some crap that she could count anytime of day?
Baaaaahhhhh.....


I dumped my stuff where I was standing and left.
That one dumb clerk had cost her boss some business.
Probably others went elsewhere too.

Smart move.

At the carousel of hope and despair,

Cute one

Halfway down I hear:
"Your attention please.
This is a final boarding call
for WestJet flight 529 for Winnipeg.
All passengers should now be on board."


Now I start to run.

Ack!

But not for long.

We have another flight to catch
on the morrow.

This trip (and hence this TR)
is only halfway done!

Yay!

irene_dsc - 139

irene_dsc - 3:15, 36(!)

See! It would've worked out perfectly!

irene_dsc, - Knows who's cool - 3 points.

Questions, next round:

1. I do laundry
(please, keep your gasps of astonishment to yourselves.)
Those shorts salveagable or red for good?

2. What critical item did I leave in Florida?

3. What snack, that is worth coming to Canada for
do we get?

4. Flight. Calgary, AB or Edmonton, AB?

5. Flight. Early, on time, or late?

6. What's your favourite movie?

1. Sorry, that red stain is never, ever going away...
2. Phone charger
3. One of those crazy chocolate bars you sent in the last prize package
4. Calgary
5. Late
6. Princess Bride. I practically have the thing memorized, and I even walked down the aisle to the theme music, which we had to track down for our musicians!

 

[Chrystmasangel]

1. I do laundry
(please, keep your gasps of astonishment to yourselves.)
Those shorts salveagable or red for good?

Yes they are!

2. What critical item did I leave in Florida?

Credit card

3. What snack, that is worth coming to Canada for
do we get?

Poutine

4. Flight. Calgary, AB or Edmonton, AB?

Edmonton

5. Flight. Early, on time, or late?

On time

6. What's your favourite movie?

It's A Wonderful Life

And plate...

Dream

 

[Thumper_Man]

Darn. We're late this time around. How we can we be late? The next chapter has been late lately. The one time I'm late it's early. So much for getting our guesses in. Costs us some valuable points.

1. I do laundry
(please, keep your gasps of astonishment to yourselves.)
Those shorts salveagable or red for good?

T_Man: Red for good.
Lady H: Well she don't know if they're salveagable, but she definitely thinks they're salvageable. She's the self proclaimed stain queen. If you can't do it, she can.

2. What critical item did I leave in Florida?

T_Man: Ipod
Lady H: Phone Charger

3. What snack, that is worth coming to Canada for
do we get?

T_Man and Lady H: Timbits

4. Flight. Calgary, AB or Edmonton, AB?

T_Man & Lady H: Calgary

5. Flight. Early, on time, or late?

T_Man: On Time
Lady H: Late

6. What's your favourite movie?

Lady H: WoO

T_Man: Well I can't pick just one. I have 8 actually. They all start off the same though. Harry Potter and the.....

 

[mustinjourney]

Questions, next round:

1. I do laundry
(please, keep your gasps of astonishment to yourselves.)
Those shorts salveagable or red for good?

2. What critical item did I leave in Florida?

3. What snack, that is worth coming to Canada for
do we get?

4. Flight. Calgary, AB or Edmonton, AB?

5. Flight. Early, on time, or late?

6. What's your favourite movie?


Coming up: Off to Alberta!

I can't believe no one suggested PKNDZ as a plate option. Seems like the MOST logical choice.

I definitely didn't see the frozen ice service -- well done in hiding it.

8 am wake-up time? That is unheard of for your trips -- talk about throwing a big time curveball.

Questions:

1. Laundry -- going to guess your wife worked some magic.
2. item -- something for your camera.
3. Snack -- fudge?
4. flight -- calgary
5. timing -- late
6. movie -- tough question. Maybe Old School.




I just got back from a trip to the world, and I must say, I found many people to be quite rude. With two small children, getting sleep can be very difficult, especially at Disney. So you can imagine my frustration, when I was just trying to get in a quick nap while I was away from the kids, but everyone else around me thought it was party time. Seriously? An elevator is no place to be carrying on like it's a club.

The nerve of some people!




Hopefully the picture loads!

 

[Mac Brew]

HI Pokndz
I am going to vote for the licence plates first hopefully avoiding mine. The following gets my vote

1.999HH Because it will remind you of your favourite ride.
2.MLCRS (mid life crisis) We all go through it when we hit a certain age and you are nearly there.
3. 4U2NV (for you to envy) Who wouldn't be envious of a Harley passing their car, suv or truck in the summertime and disappearing to the horizon.

 

[Mac Brew]

Hi again
Great update as usual. Nothing worse than the ride back to Orlando airport. Maybe its because you work with aeroplanes that you somehow manage to catch them on time and are used to the way that airport terminals work. For us mere mortals I think that I would have missed that connection. Looks like the west jet desk people knew that you would make your connecting flight it was look of the determined that clinched it. Nothing worse than a queue when you are in a hurry


1. I do laundry
(please, keep your gasps of astonishment to yourselves.)
Those shorts salvageable or red for good?
Still come out red but now a lighter pinkly colour. Ruby comes to the rescue with bleach

2. What critical item did I leave in Florida?
Your Alarm clock

3. Snack
I Don't have a clue but I Hope it has bacon on it to salvage a point.

4. Flight. Calgary, AB or Edmonton, AB?
Calgary AB 50/50 chance of points

5. Flight. Early, on time, or late?
Go for late

6. What's your favourite movie?
The Lord of the rings Trilogy

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Bonus-palooza!
I'm going to list all the suggestions
and you guys vote for your fave.
Anyone who votes will receive bonus points.
No voting for your own plate idea!
(This will result in a deduction, so beware!)

No problem! My idea was crappy anyway.

But... well, I don't necessarily want to be
associated with ponzi schemes and have people
throwing rocks or feces at me.

Or rocks covered in feces.
That would probably be worse.

Yes. That would definitely be worse.

Still... waking up around 7:30am
while I'm in Disney is pretty rare.
And pretty sweet.

Wow! 7:30 really IS sleeping in!

(A few days later...
"Hello Mr. Pkondz?
This is Disney calling.
There appears to be an issue
with your account?

Me: "Pardon? Je m'excuse, mais
j'ne parle pas l'Anglais.")

"One moment, Mr. Pkondz. We'll transfer you to our French-speaking desk."

Curse you, Disney!

There really ought to be some sort
of prize, or reward for boarding that bus.
It's so demoralizing and depressing.

"Welcome aboard! Here's $1,000!"

I'm on board with this idea!

Yeah okay. That wouldn't do it.
But I very much doubt even Disney
could afford to pay me enough
to make boarding DUD sting a little less.

Maybe, but can we at least try? Implement it as a test program? I am volunteering my services. After a week at WDW, of course.

It wouldn't open for another 10 minutes.


Thank goodness we left four hours early!!

Well, at least you had plenty of time to stand in line at the concession stand.

Ever notice that there's always someone
(or someones) who can't follow simple directions?
Come on people.
Take your shoes off, take your crap out of your pockets
and take your laptops out.
But no. Every time.
Thanks for holding everyone up.

You have to wonder how anybody could possibly be surprised at this point. "Wait, my shoes? Really? Those 37 signs I passed in the line were serious?"

I was standing by the cash
when I witnessed this exchange.
Clerk 1: "Can you open up your till?"
Clerk 2: "No, I can't."
Clerk 1: "Why not? We've got the entire
population of Orlando in line."
Clerk 2: "Because the boss said to count
these doodads, so I have to do that."

See, you guys make fun of us government workers for insane things like this, but it happens everywhere.

I dumped my stuff where I was standing and left.
That one dumb clerk had cost her boss some business.
Probably others went elsewhere too.

Not necessarily the dumb clerk, though. If the boss is an overbearing micromanager, they've probably earned his wrath by thinking for themselves before.

I passed the time munching,
drinking, and watching Big Hero 6.
Cute movie.

Dang it! That was my other guess.

I can't say for sure, exactly which gate
we arrived at, but it was probably C34.
See it?

Ah! There it is.

Apparently you've been spending too much time with me. (Like you didn't know that already!) There's some Law of the Universe that states my airplane gate will always be at the very end of the hall.

Well, okay. Full disclosure.
I didn't exactly run.
But pkondz's fast walk
is a lot faster than a lot
of people can run.

People... I move.

I know what that's like. I like to pretend I'm the running back, and the people in front of my are my OL clearing a path. Then I look for an opening to dart through. Or maybe a random passer-by to shove aside with a forearm shiver. It's fun when you get to the end of the hallway and spike your carry-on bag. Except once I was carrying Drew.

I wandered over to the WestJet desk
and asked what my chances were
of making my connecting flight.
They assured me that I had time.


I wonder if they always lie like that,
so that you won't bother them?

Probably.

Probably went to the same school as the CM who told you to go around the castle to get to Jungle Cruise.

I have no idea which one I need.
My boarding pass didn't list it
and I didn't see a departure board
anywhere near by.

Of course. It's not like any of this would be helpful information to, oh, anyone at an airport.

So... walk up to B1... except it's not.

It's B23.

Who set up this airport?? Were the plans upside-down when they built it?

"Your attention please.
This is a final boarding call
for WestJet flight 529 for Winnipeg.
All passengers should now be on board."

An attendant looks up and says:
"Winnipeg?"
I couldn't speak so I just nodded.
Probably just as well.
If I could've spoken
I probably would've said.
"Nope! Just out for a jog!
I always jog in airports!"

At this point, you'll just go wherever the plane does.

I honestly don't know why
they allow that connection
to be booked.
Maybe they think only
Olympic sprinters will.

On the plus side, you've now qualified for the Canadian Olympic team! Please go submit a urine sample.

Or wash myself.
I was sipping my drink and
felt a bit dribble down my chin.
I don't normally have a drinking problem.
Another sip. More dribbling. Geez!

Quality Airplane reference there.

About 30 minutes later,
I'm home.


But not for long.

We have another flight to catch
on the morrow.

This trip (and hence this TR)
is only halfway done!

This is the best way to handle Disney Depression I've ever seen!

Captain_Oblivious - asked for points, 8:00, 13, Zootopia, yes, coffee, plate, saw both - 37 points. High score!

1. I do laundry
(please, keep your gasps of astonishment to yourselves.)
Those shorts salveagable or red for good?

After a couple of days? They're history, pal.

2. What critical item did I leave in Florida?

Hmmm...charger for your phone/iPod?

3. What snack, that is worth coming to Canada for
do we get?

I'm not well-versed in Canadian snacks. Donuts at Tim Horton's?

4. Flight. Calgary, AB or Edmonton, AB?

Well, Calgary appears to be closer to Banff. So, Calgary.

5. Flight. Early, on time, or late?

Slightly early, with good tailwinds.

6. What's your favourite movie?

Man, there are so many great ones. My Pantheon includes Die Hard, Gladiator, The Shawshank Redemption, and Planes Trains & Automobiles. But my favorite (or, in Canadian, favourite) will always be Raiders of the Lost Ark.

License Plate votes:

DWHIP (because of course)
999HH (That one made me think, "Why didn't I think of that?")
4U2NV (Thought that was pretty clever)

 

[fallonkendra]

1. I do laundry
(please, keep your gasps of astonishment to yourselves.)
Those shorts salveagable or red for good?

Less red, more pink.

2. What critical item did I leave in Florida?

Yourself. You wish you could have stayed there.

3. What snack, that is worth coming to Canada for
do we get?

Ohh, tough one! It could be Cookies By George... or maybe some Timbits...but you're also a Winnipeger, and you guys love your 7-11 slurpies...

4. Flight. Calgary, AB or Edmonton, AB?

I can't remember if you were going to Banff or Jasper...Calgary is a slightly larger airport, but I seem to recall you mentioning Edmonton...
I'm going to go with YEG as my final answer.

5. Flight. Early, on time, or late?

Late.

6. What's your favourite movie?

First of all, yay for the correct spelling of that word I bolded
Favourite movie...hmm. I don't know why this question is causing me so much difficulty...I think I might have to say the Toy Story trilogy. Or maybe the Harry Potter franchise? Hmm...

Coming up: Off to Alberta!

Yay! My home!

Also, bonus points for the license plate question: I'm not actually going to answer because I think vanity plates are silly. And I do judge people who have them. Sorry.

 

[Steppesister]

MDLI4 (midlifer)

U4EA (euphoria)

4U2NV (for you to envy)

My top 3. I like the mix of using numbers- gives other drivers a challenge to figure out.

And yet... I'd prefer to sleep in on a day
when I'm not leaving Disneyworld.

Maybe someday you can slow your trips down and enjoy a day of sleeping in, taking things nice and slow, and finding fun that doesn't involve rushing to a park....

I seriously considered just skipping town,
but then I thought if I did that....
they might not let me back in town.

Plus, they might put a lien on your bike and then all of this vanity plate game would be moot.

but the farthest cherry stone spit
is ninety three feet, so totally true.)

You spend WAY too much time on Google.

"Welcome aboard! Here's $1,000!"

That, Dear Friend, is called a Bounceback offer. But you have to spend $4000 to claim your $1000. Disney is tricky like that.

(The days when I get myself checked out
are long behind me.)

(gotta feed the mind too) but...

Magazines do that?!

She wouldn't open her till and serve all
the customers because she had to count
some crap that she could count anytime of day?
Baaaaahhhhh.....

Common sense is so rare these days.

I dumped my stuff where I was standing and left.
That one dumb clerk had cost her boss some business.
Probably others went elsewhere too.

Capitalism in motion! Love this!

But I got onboard and took my seat
in row one.

Bulkhead! SCORE!!!

I also decided to sip on a Caesar.

Had to look it up, but well, that may very well become a favourite. (Since it's a Canadian favourite, I thought I'd spell favourite as a Canadian would, and try hard to ignore that spellcheck considers it wrong. The red underscore is super annoying though.)

I imagine it would be delicious at 9:00 with eggs benedict! Let's see... 9:00 AM in Orlando = 5:00 PM in Bulgaria. Trust me, they know how to drink there.

Caesar justified!

Always.

I ran.

Sad day when the sashaying comes to an end.

I estimate that my heartrate
was somewhere between 170 - 180bpm.

Get this guy some Amiodarone, STAT!

I couldn't speak so I just nodded.
Probably just as well.
If I could've spoken
I probably would've said.
"Nope! Just out for a jog!
I always jog in airports!"

I honestly don't know why
they allow that connection
to be booked.

It shouldn't be. WAY too tight.

I don't normally have a drinking problem.
Another sip. More dribbling. Geez!

I must confess. I do. Every single cup of coffee must have at least one dribble down the front. And my cups rarely have leaks.

Captain_Oblivious - asked for points, 8:00, 13, Zootopia, yes, coffee, plate, saw both - 37 points. High score!

Dusted off that crystal ball, eh?

1. I do laundry
(please, keep your gasps of astonishment to yourselves.)
Those shorts salveagable or red for good?

Forever pink. Sorry. I just did this with a new tablecloth- entire load turned pink, dishtowels, some underwear, my favorite robe (it was made in the USA, so gonna spell it right this time.)

2. What critical item did I leave in Florida?

A charger and small piece of your soul. And a couple grand.

3. What snack, that is worth coming to Canada for
do we get?

I flipped a coin to choose either poutine (which I'm dying to try, but think it's more a meal? not a snack?) or donuts. You seem to talk a lot about Tim's. Gonna go with Donuts.

4. Flight. Calgary, AB or Edmonton, AB?

Calgary

5. Flight. Early, on time, or late?

On time.

6. What's your favourite movie?

Les Mis, Princess Bride, Babette's Feast, It's a Wonderful Life

 

[franandaj]

BADAZ (bad azz)

W84IT (wait for it)

L8TER (later)

OK those are my three!

I seriously considered just skipping town,
but then I thought if I did that....
they might not let me back in town.

Oh no, they know where you live and they will hunt you down.

(A few days later...
"Hello Mr. Pkondz?
This is Disney calling.
There appears to be an issue
with your account?

No they don't call, they just send you a bill. Remember a couple trips back when we had to have a card shipped to the hotel. The WL got the change made but not the Polynesian so we got a nice little after the fact bill. We thought we had given them gift cards to cover the charges, but evidently not.

There really ought to be some sort
of prize, or reward for boarding that bus.
It's so demoralizing and depressing

Longer trips...that's what you need!

Eventually someone told me to shut up
and I did and it was quiet again
and the kids could nap.

(The days when I get myself checked out
are long behind me.)

Well now that you are advancing in age perhaps you should do that again!

That one dumb clerk had cost her boss some business.
Probably others went elsewhere too.

Boss probably doesn't care either. They likely get paid solely on hours not sales.

I walked a few feet across the hall
to a Mexican quick serve and grabbed a Coke.

That works.

(Yes. Four. International flights
get the added bonus hour
even though it takes the same
amount of time to check in and
go through security as a domestic flight.)

I didn't mind the four hours before we had pre-check. We don't move like you do.

Pretty sure we got airborne not too late

They gave you free airborne? We're there lots of sick people?

I also decided to sip on a Caesar.

See? After 5!
Caesar justified!

Want to follow along?
I'll even provide a handy dandy map.

Thank you for the visual aid!

Well, okay. Full disclosure.
I didn't exactly run.
But pkondz's fast walk
is a lot faster than a lot
of people can run.

I'll keep that in mind, please don't leave me in the dust!

Arriving at customs,
I encountered a long line
of refugees from sunnier climes
and faraway places.

Ah, yes turned away from America....oh yeah, that was before.....

I wondered if my bringing
my costume
(necessitating a suitcase)
would cause me to miss my flight?

Well there goes my guess of what you left in Florida.

I wonder if they always lie like that,
so that you won't bother them?

They're giving you alternative facts.

The bags started to be barfed onto
the conveyor belt and I was not pleased
to see that it wasn't first
(Oh, come on... just one time!)
but it did show up within
the first 10 bags or so. Score!

See, Fran and I would still be on the plane waiting for her scooter.

I got on the plane
and collapsed in my seat.
Made it!

That was quite an ordeal. If we have to change planes 2 hours is the minimum layover for us and even that is pushing it!

I honestly don't know why
they allow that connection
to be booked.
Maybe they think only
Olympic sprinters will.

Or they're in cahoots with the shopkeepers to keep you in the terminal to buy more snacks to tide you over when you miss your plane.

I let the glass sit for a bit and...
there's a puddle on my tray.
The glass had an invisible crack in it.

The day just gets better and better. At least it was ginger ale and not cherry soda.

About 30 minutes later,
I'm home.

Ahhhh, time to rest and relax!

But not for long.

We have another flight to catch
on the morrow.

Or not.

franandaj - asked for points, 2:15, 8, Frozen, yes, coffee, plate, saw both - 23 points

Not too shabby.

Steppesister - 263 points
franandaj - 252 points

Well I'm making up ground....

1. I do laundry
(please, keep your gasps of astonishment to yourselves.)
Those shorts salveagable or red for good?

Since you cook as well no reason to think you can't do laundry as well. I'm gonna say pretty much pink for good. Unless you're a master of laundry and have lots of time, real good stain remover, those shorts are still pink.

2. What critical item did I leave in Florida?

Well not passport, or wallet, I can't imagine you are silly enough to own only one phone charger, besides without a smart phone you are not beholden to the device. So I'm going to guess your electric razor.

3. What snack, that is worth coming to Canada for
do we get?

Poutine. That's the only Canadian snack I can think of that is unxious enough to warrant a visit to Canada.

4. Flight. Calgary, AB or Edmonton, AB?

No clue, <tossing coin> Calgary.

5. Flight. Early, on time, or late?

On time.

6. What's your favourite movie?

Now that's tough, a while back I would have said Caddyshack. And while it's still a great movie I may have matured a bit. So to think what movie could I watch over and over again? Month Python and the Holy Grail!

 

[MAGICFOR2]

I know it is probably too late, and maybe already suggested, but for a license plate: DOLWIP
ETA: This is why you read the whole thread before you commenr, even if you get a quick brainstorm!

 

[DonnaBeeGood]

.