Canadian Buffoon's Solo Disney Vacation - Update 07/08! pp99 - Here today gone tomorrow

[afwdwfan]

Sorry @pkondz I didn't mean to ruin your fun.

I guess we should mention the best kind of SBD... the crop duster.

 

[pkondz]

Sorry @pkondz I didn't mean to ruin your fun.

I guess we should mention the best kind of SBD... the crop duster.

It's best when you can then commiserate with a stranger and point out the "probable" suspect.

 

[pkondz]

We've descended into fart jokes territory.
I'm taking that as a sign that I'd better start the next update...

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

We've descended into fart jokes territory.
I'm taking that as a sign that I'd better start the next update...

Says who? The fart jokes are always my favorite part of a TR.

 

[pkondz]

Says who? The fart jokes are always my favorite part of a TR.

I know. That's why I better start writing.

 

[afwdwfan]

Go blow more bubbles at a stingray.

Just make sure you don't do anything more than bubbles. What do they do with a Baby Ruth in the aquarium????

 

[pkondz]

Go blow more bubbles at a stingray.

I never said where the bubbles came from...

Just make sure you don't do anything more than bubbles. What do they do with a Baby Ruth in the aquarium????

That is an excellent question! I'm glad you asked!

 

[BibbitybobityLu]

We've descended into fart jokes territory.
I'm taking that as a sign that I'd better start the next update...

Okay this one I can't be blamed for!

I totally kept up with my good behaviour and didn't get involved!

I may have thought about it...but I didn't write about it!

I'm clearly more mature

 

[orangecats2]

DOODY, DOODY!!!
I had figured out SBD before I read Andy's comment. The elevator clue helped.

Yes, next update please.

 

[RGirl]

Wow - I have been away from the DIS for longer than I like, and it looks like things have gotten pretty crazy here on the pkondz report! I wish I had time to actually read all the crazy chatter. Or maybe not having just stumbled on some of Andy's most recent comments.....

RGirl – 1 point for beerstiles

courtneybelle - 8 points for graduating from college.

I love this!

How could I not love anything and everything to do with the undersea world?
So I guess you could say that at the core,
Disney is the reason why I was able to get back into the water.
So it's kind of fitting that I'd be doing this, no?

I don't know - I STILL can't believe that you were able to overcome all the horrible water experiences. Disney or no!

Imagine my surprise when it turned out that I was the best at breath holding
and other snorkeling related skills.
(not that I was all that great... or even that much better.)
Really, it only makes sense. I'd been doing that since I was five or so.
For some, it was their first time.

How could you NOT be the best????

I did a 180 degree flip and was now descending head first instead of feet first.
I instinctively equalized the pressure in my ears as I descended.

Oh, of course, that's just what I would do.....

And the video from the above still.

I love it!!!!! The music is perfection!

I happily swam away from the group.
And pretty much right away came up on my first shark.

and I looked down and...
Oh, no! I think a turtle has died!!!
I was so upset!
There was this big, beautiful turtle,
unmoving, nose down in the gravel.
I looked around to see if I could spot Gordon or the cameraman.
And as I looked to my right....
There was another turtle.
In exactly the same pose, but on the other side of the tank.

Oh.

Okay. I will admit to breathing a sigh of relief and gratitude.


Shhhh..... The turtles are sleeping.
I left them to their dreams of the EAC (East Australian Current.)

I'm so glad they were just snoozing!

Watch this:
(The hubby is exiting to the left, DW is entering from the right,
I'm in the middle and Melissa's DH comes in from the right at the end.
This might give the impression that we were all sticking together,
but this was right after we were told we could go on our own.)

Love the video - I think it actually looks like you all swam off in your own directions once you came through (although I now know that you were being secretly shadowed ).

Does anyone remember how I went on (and on... and on... and on...)
about wanting to spread some pixie dust?
And my frustration at being thwarted at every turn?

Yes, yes, I remember! I do! I remember!

Here's me, swimming by the windows to the Coral Reef restaurant.

I was hoping that your pixie dust would involve something like this.

I'm sorry to say.... No. I'm not. I almost burst out laughing at the time.
(Which probably would've looked pretty weird.)
But there was an elderly couple who were having dinner,
right by the window.
I swam by... stopped... the woman looked up... and almost jumped out of her seat!



She got over it right away, and waved gamely, but it was pretty funny.
Guess she wasn't expecting anything but fish swimming by.
This is Disney you know.
I hope she went home with the story of how she was startled
by the diver in the aquarium.

I love it!

I swam around in lazy laps, greeting children wherever and whenever I saw them.
Parents would run and bring their kids to see me.
And I would play with them.
I'd place my hand on one side of the glass and almost always,
the child would place his or her hand opposite mine.

This is just awesome. What a wonderful way to spend some time - those kids must have been loving it! And I know you were too.

I played more games of "pattycake" then I ever have in my entire life.

How close did he get?
About this close:

Did you know there was a VIP room with floor to ceiling windows into the aquarium?
And that there's an acrylic see through grand piano there?

WHAT?

I tucked my wet suit into the plastic bag that I had brought with me.
(See?)

Ha! I remember the bag too! My brain is ON FIRE tonight!

Remember Melissa's husband? Who came along for the ride?
Guess who spent the entire dive shadowing me?
He was behind me the whole time and I never even noticed him!
I only figured it out when I saw the video.
Wherever I went, there went my shadow!

I do! I do remember Melissa's husband!

This is a very cool thing that they did.

I told you it wasn't anything big. It's Small to be precise.
But the winner will also receive the rare Dive Quest T-shirt.

This is a VERY cool prize - VERY. I feel bad that you didn't get a shirt that YOU could use though.

1. I did do one more attraction that evening.
What was the next attraction that I visited?

Hmm, I'm going to go with Spaceship Earth.

2. I did see a nighttime show that night,
did I stay for Illuminations? Or go to another park?
(Wishes? Fantasmic!?)

You totally stayed for IllumiNations!

3. At whichever park I happen to end the night...
how long do I wait for the bus?

5 minutes!

 

[pkondz]

Okay this one I can't be blamed for!

I totally kept up with my good behaviour and didn't get involved!

I may have thought about it...but I didn't write about it!

Oh, we can still blame you. That's one of the wonders of Trip Reporting.



It's all Lyndsay's fault!

I'm clearly more mature

Oh, yes. We all noticed that about you.
Very mature.


(Just back away slowly folks. You don't want to be close when she gets riled up!)

DOODY, DOODY!!!

Yup!

I had figured out SBD before I read Andy's comment. The elevator clue helped.

Yes, next update please.

Been very busy last couple of days.
But I have a slow evening/midnight shift (16 hours) coming up Saturday.
I hope to write it and post it by Saturday. Sunday at the latest?

 

[pkondz]

I wish I had time to actually read all the crazy chatter. Or maybe not having just stumbled on some of Andy's most recent comments.....

Sorry about that.
The natives were getting restless...

I love this!

Well deserved!

I don't know - I STILL can't believe that you were able to overcome all the horrible water experiences. Disney or no!

When I list out all the things that happened... I can't believe it either!

How could you NOT be the best????

You have a valid point.

Oh, of course, that's just what I would do.....

Well, I've been snorkeling since I was 5 or 6. So I don't even think about it anymore. It just happens.

I love it!!!!! The music is perfection!

That was the soundtrack they put on.
I was going to mute it, then couldn't remember how.
So instead of figuring it out again, I got lazy and just left it.

Love the video - I think it actually looks like you all swam off in your own directions once you came through (although I now know that you were being secretly shadowed ).

I prefer to think of it as I had a stalker.
Never had one before.

Yes, yes, I remember! I do! I remember!

Atta girl, Roni!

I was hoping that your pixie dust would involve something like this.

This is just awesome. What a wonderful way to spend some time - those kids must have been loving it! And I know you were too.

I would be very hard pressed to tell you who was having more fun.
Me, the kids, or their parents!

Ha! I remember the bag too! My brain is ON FIRE tonight!

Take some Tylenol. That's good for fever.

This is a VERY cool prize - VERY. I feel bad that you didn't get a shirt that YOU could use though.

Don't feel bad.
When I saw it wouldn't fit, I wasn't really all that disappointed.
But when I thought about including it in the prize package...
Then I was thrilled!

Might fit a certain kid you know?
You're still in the running, ya know.

Hmm, I'm going to go with Spaceship Earth.
You totally stayed for IllumiNations!
5 minutes!

Check!

 

[RGirl]

Might fit a certain kid you know?
You're still in the running, ya know.

Just what I was thinking.....

 

[pkondz]

Just what I was thinking.....

Results and standings coming up soon.

 

[orangecats2]

Not soon enough...I'm going to bed.

I had a lunch today with cat people that I met on Facebook. They were no more weird than someone I met up with from the DIS boards...

 

[pkondz]

Not soon enough...I'm going to bed.

Nighty night, Carrie.
Should be a new chapter posted when you wake up.

I had a lunch today with cat people that I met on Facebook. They were no more weird than someone I met up with from the DIS boards...

That's funn..... hey!!

 

[pkondz]

Ain't got no Oogie Boogie


There's one thing I wanted to mention before moving on with this update.
(And I did warn you that it would be a short one. Well.... shorter.)
Quite a few of you commented on the rule about staying away from the dolphins.
The comments tended to focus on a variation of the theme:
Dolphins nice, sharks... not so nice.

A couple of points.
Dolphins and sharks have one thing in common.
They are both very, very skilled... predators.
I tried to Google how many people are injured by dolphins and,
well, it's not something that seems to be kept track of.
But there are incidents where dolphins have injured people.

I have no basis of fact for this statement,
but if the dolphins are indeed territorial,
than I would suspect they would be more of a danger than the sharks.

And while all animals are unpredictable to one degree or another,
I would guess that the behavioural pattern of the sharks
is more likely to be adhered to than that of the dolphins
if they were allowed to interact with the divers.

Just my opinion.
But it's my TR, so.... there ya go.

Moving on...


I got out of the building after my dive at 7:50pm.
Not a lot of time left in the day.
But there were two things left for me to do this day.
And the first one was just around the corner.

Last time we were in Disney, Ruby and I shared a clammobile (the DDs shared another)
and we rode Nemo & Friends together.
We were just relaxing, enjoying being off our feet more than anything when..

We have no idea what it was that she said to us, but we both cracked up laughing.
We just weren't expecting to hear from her.
I turned to Ruby, "What did she say?"
Ruby said, "I don't know! But I cracked up anyway!"


So the only thing I remembered from this ride was when Peach said... something.


I really wonder if Disney maybe overestimated how popular this ride would be.
There was exactly no one in the queue with me.
Well, there were two very bored looking CMs, but that's it.

I rode it... and really liked it!
I leaned forward to hear what Peach had to say and...
Well, either she didn't say anything this time, or it wasn't loud enough to hear.

Oh, well.
Still a fun memory!


I got out of the ride and decided that if I wanted to get a decent spot for Illuminations,
that I should probably think about getting myself settled.


There's really no bad spot to see Illuminations, if you scout around a little.
Oh, sure, there are some spots that have trees in the way,
but those are easy to see and avoid.

But there is one thing you should keep in mind
when staking out your little piece of property.
And that's the wind.
Look around, find a flag or banner and note if there's any breeze
and if there is a breeze, note the wind direction.
You don't want to be downwind of the fireworks.
Since a lot of the action happens at ground... well, I guess water level,
you're view can be obscured by smoke.


I didn't notice any wind that evening,
so I just decided to wander over in the direction of World Showcase
and see what I could find.

The crowds were already starting to line up around the lagoon,
so I headed off in the direction of Mexico.
The Pavilion, I mean.
Although if I kept going around the lagoon and kept heading south...
I'd come nowhere near Mexico.


But I've always wanted to visit Key West, so that would've been good.


As it turned out, I found a spot along the fence just before Mexico.
I spent the next little while attaching my camera to the fence with my Gorillapod.
I knew the fence wasn't the best spot in the world to shoot from,
but I figured it would still be better than hand-holding.

(I reserve that for Ruby.)


As it got darker, I snapped a couple of pics of some of the pavilions
that I could see from my vantage point.

And a few more as it got even darker.
Plus... I had time to kill.

Okay, so maybe not the best pictures in the World,
but I was bored and you're a captive audience.


Wait! Where are you going!
Come back!!!


Shoot.

I have prizes!


<Phew!> Some of you stuck around.



Eventually it got closer to show time
and a good little crowd had formed all around the lagoon.
Including a family with two little kids right behind me.
I knew the kids would have an obstructed view,
but I'd come early and took the time to find a good spot.
Not to mention having set up the camera and everything.
So too bad! Come early next time!



Of course I let them in front of me.
They're kids for Pete's sake!
Plus I didn't really need to be that close to the camera,
I have a remote shutter release.


As a result of the lens I had (and was limited to),
I couldn't get any of the higher fireworks.
But I knew that most of the action was down low,
so I didn't worry about it.
Besides, there are only so many fireworks pictures you can see
without getting bored.

Which is another reason I let the kids in front of me.
With all the low stuff, they were going to miss the best parts! (IMHO)


Right around 9:00pm the show started and it was...
Well, it was as good as it always is, of course.
It doesn't punch me in the gut like Wishes does,
but I really do enjoy watching it.

And since I went to the trouble of taking pictures,
you're just going to have to see some.
(Not to worry. I'll only post a few.)

There. That was fairly painless wasn't it?
No?
Sorry about that.
No more. I promise.


It was about 9:15 by then and it was time to play a new game.
The Get Out Before... Everyone game.


I quickly packed up my camera and gear and started to walk towards the exit.
I began to accelerate.

Yes, I sashay.
But when I have someplace I need to be...
Very few can keep up with me.
I walk very fast and I scan for gaps and openings as I go.
And I use them.

And that night, after Illuminations.
I was bobbing and weaving like Muhammad Ali.

Man! He didn't even bother to put his hands up!


I raced back towards Odyssey bridge
where there I encountered the expected bottleneck.
Since I'd bolted right at the conclusion of Illuminations,
I was ahead of most of the crowd.

Dodging, ducking, slipping into small gaps,
I crossed the bridge in no time at all.
Another bottleneck appeared at the fountain
but I squeezed my way through
and was now quick-walking towards the tapstiles.


Yes. Tapstiles.


A quick left, and I'm now heading straight to the bus stops.
I glance at the sign post to see which stop is for ASMu... got it.

I arrive at my stop at precisely 9:27.
Just in time to see a full bus pull away from the curb.
Dang.

I guess I should've bobbed once when I weaved.
But if I'd gone much faster, I might've heaved....
my cookies.

I was prepared for my traditional 20 minutes wait departure time,
but at exactly 9:30, another bus pulled up!
Score! Just a three minute wait!

Which brings us to...


The Contest

And the answer to those pressing questions...

Attraction: The Seas With Nemo & Friends
Show: Illuminations
Bus wait: 3 minutes

2 points each for Nemo and Illuminations.
8 points for nailing the bus time.
5 points for being 1 minute off.
4 points for being 2 minutes off.
3 points for being 3 minutes off.
2 points for being 4 minutes off.
1 point for being 5 minutes off.

Your answers and points awarded this round:

Gracefulskinny - TOT - Fantasmic! - 20 minutes - 0 points
afwdwfan - Turtle Talk - Illuminations - 17 minutes - 2 points
BibbitybobityLu - TT - yes - 12784 seconds - 1 point.
lilpixiebabe101 - Splash - Wishes - - 0 points.
ursalita - SE - Illuminations - 5 minutes - 6 points
DonnaBeeGood - Soarin' - Illuminations - 9 minutes - 2 points
Captain_Oblivious - Soarin' - Illuminations - 13 minutes - 2 points
Sandy Mouse - SE - Illuminations - 20 minutes - 2 points
cinderkelly - Nemo - Wishes - 0 minutes - 5 points
MAGICFOR2 - Aquarium - Illuminations - 40 minutes - 3 points (partial points for the Aquarium)
Mac Brew - TOT - Fantasmic! - 2 minutes - 5 points
jandlinz - SE - Wishes (shoulda gone with your first guess!) - 0 minutes - 3 points
Steppesister - SE - Illuminations - 12 minutes - 2 points
orangecats2 - SE - Illuminations - 7 minutes - 4 points
courtneybelle - TT - Illuminations - 10 minutes - 2 points
KatMark - RNR - Fantasmic! - 15 minutes - 0 points
Susan R - SE - Illuminations - 0 minutes - 5 points
Tracy161 - SE - Fantasmic! - 22 minutes - 0 points
Ladyfish77 - SE - Illuminations - 45 minutes - 2 points
Glittercat - Soarin' - Wishes - 0 minutes - 3 points
shan23877 - Nemo - Fantasmic! - 35 minutes - 2 points
irene_dsc - Nemo - Wishes - 25 minutes - 2 points
RGirl - SE - Illuminations - 5 minutes - 6 points


Bonus points!

Gracefulskinny - 2 points for sharp eyes.
afwdwfan - 2 points for 200 divers, 3 points for gassy rays.
BibbitybobityLu - 1 point for being a good girl - 2 points because she thinks I'm bad-*** (I'm not... but still) - 2 points.... I was in the pool!! 4 points... Because I don't want a certain nameless prize.
ursalita - 1 point for not following the rules. 1 point for being distracted.
DonnaBeeGood - 1 point for being worth the wait.
Captain_Oblivious - 2 points for asking for points, 1 point for getting the point, 3 points for 'frican laser beam sharks.
cinderkelly - 1 point for being touchy/feely with fish.
lilpixiebabe101 - 1 point for trying to keep it up... the snorkel I mean.
Mac Brew - 2 points for asking for points.
Sandy Mouse - 1 point for dancing girls.
jandlinz - 2 points. Anyone who reads through all that in two days deserves points.
Steppesister - 1 point for the rapture, 1 point for letting out a SBD.
Heluvsme - 2 points for being a good mom.
courtneybelle - 1 point for still being here, 2 points for thinking of me.
goofymimi - 1 point for safe ankles.
orangecats2 - 1 point for staying out of trouble, 1 point for Howdy Doody.
KatMark - 1 point for not coming unglued.
Susan R - 2 points for drowning buddies.
cheekypoppins - 2 points for Royalty, -1 point for loving a certain "ride", 3 points for photo critiques.
Glittercat - 1 point for pointing out the glaring error in the post, 2 points for Land Sharks.
Tracy161 - 2 points for crying, 1 point for Pan's shadow.
Ladyfish77 - 2 points for being eagle eyed, 2 points for games.
shan23877 - 2 points for asking for points... plus I'll give you 1 extra... for over the top flattery.
RGirl - 1 point for the being the best, 2 points for being on fire.

Contest points so far

afwdwfan 38 points
orangecats2 37 points
Sandy Mouse 30 points
Rgirl 29 points
Captain_Oblivious 26 points
Scoobymoons 25 points
Susan R 25 points
MAGICFOR2 24 points
Tracy161 24 points
shan23877 22 points
courtneybelle 20 points
GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes 19 points
Laura74 17 points
bankr63 16 points
DonnaBeeGood 16 points
@Steppesister 16 points
dawnbu40 15 points
BibbitybobityLu - 14 points
KatMark 14 points
Cinderkelly 11 points
dgthree 10 points
ForeverDance 9 points
Glittercat 9 points
RockinDisney 9 points
Thumper_Man 8 points
ursalita 8 points
lisaviolet 7 points
Mac Brew 7 points
ddstratton 6 points
Gracefulskinny 6 points
Ladyfish77 6 points
mmeb144 6 points
Backstage_Gal 5 points
Jandlinz 5 points
TheLittleKatie 5 points
cheekypoppins 4 points
KathyM2 4 points
Heluvsme 3 points
lilpixiebabe101 3 points
Self_resqing_princz 3 points
Thumper_Man's Wife 3 points
Irene_dsc 2 points
LookinUp 2 points
Ravens girl 2 points
RMColosimo 2 points
goofymimi 1 point
quandrea 1 point


(And the usual disclaimer, if you notice an error, tell me!)


The bus pulled up to the resort a scant 15 minutes later.
But I wasn't quite ready to head back to my room yet.

Remember my DISmeet with Caitlin, Dawn and Dale?
Caitlin had mentioned that she would be working at the gift shop in Melody Hall.
But I wasn't positive if she had said Wednesday night (tonight) or Thursday.
I was almost positive it was Thursday,
but I didn't want to risk missing her.

So I popped into the store and...
Nope. She's not working tonight.

Ah, well. Tomorrow it is then.


Tired, and a bit melancholy (I was hoping for one more DISmeet this evening)
I retired to my room.
It was 9:55.
I looked at my wrist and...
Well of course.
It figured, really.

I was down another MagicBandit.
Oogie Boogie, the bad guy from Nightmare Before Christmas...
sometime during the day, had boogied off.

Still had the HM Ghost from Dale
and Jack Skellington of course. Wouldn't want to lose him.
But I've now got 50% of the MagicBandits I started with.


Anyone want to take a guess what and where this "never before seen" photo is?
I'll make it worth your while!

And I'll throw in some bonus points.

Which park am I going to tomorrow?

What is my first ride?
(No tricks this time. If you guess the right park, you should guess the right ride.)

I have a lunch ADR in that park. Where is it?
(Hint: It's not in WS and it's probably not what you'd expect.)

Good luck!

Link to next post - Second bridge to the right and straight on the coaster​

 

[cinderkelly]

I really wonder if Disney maybe overestimated how popular this ride would be.
There was exactly no one in the queue with me.
Well, there were two very bored looking CMs, but that's it.

I rode it... and really liked it!

Yes!!! I was right!!! Not gloating or anything.....

As it turned out, I found a spot along the fence just before Mexico.
I spent the next little while attaching my camera to the fence with my Gorillapod.
I knew the fence wasn't the best spot in the world to shoot from,
but I figured it would still be better than hand-holding.

(I reserve that for Ruby.)

Very nice vantage point! I happen to quite like your photos!

And I use them.

And that night, after Illuminations.
I was bobbing and weaving like Muhammad Ali.

Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee!

Oh that bonus pic, that's a tough one. The inside of your camera bag??????

Bonus questions: my spidey sense is broken so I'll just throw something out there


MK
Space mountain
BOG

 

[TGM]

I think that it is a picture of some sort of shirt, or a poncho maybe?

Park tomorrow? Animal Kingdom

First attraction? Everest

ADR? Yak and Yeti

 

[orangecats2]

yay! update! Man, I can't get back in first! That darn Andy!!!

I'm going to hold off on my guesses for now while I think about it.