ThemeParkCommando

I've got a week in Dec 2020.  If they never open reservations back up for 2020, I wonder if I can auction those off to the highest bidder? (j/k)

They are pushing to remove "The Eyes of Texas' song from University of Texas because the phrase 'the eyes of Texas are upon you' came from a UT leader, who heard 'the eyes of the South are upon you' from another leader... and that is racist.  Also, it's possible that the song 'the Eyes of Texas' was originally sung by a group of students in blackface. 

While there's nothing that can be confirmed, I'm ok with changing the song.  In fact, I am in for drastically changing many of the traditional songs / chants out there to new ones.  

We need to create a new culture in the USA, one that can be a new culture for all races, and is uniquely the culture of the USA, so that people coming here to live can be happy and proud of their new culture, and not want to bring along their old one, just because they are comfortable with it, and try to introduce the bad parts of that culture in the name of 'tradition'. 

Thanks for the update, Jason.  I'm still holding onto my December reservations.  Planning this vacation, for me, is challenging in a good, unique experience way.  At this point, I can only hope for the herd immunity and maybe there will be a new drug that will lessen the impact of the virus ( such as tamiflu does for the flu), I don't think there will be a vaccine ready yet. 

I'm curious to see how this all pans out.  

I'll be heading to SeaWorld San Antonio tomorrow,  to see what their new procedures are like. I had to make a reservation for the day, but they are not designating any entry times, or limiting time in the park. 

I've already decided I won't be touching any rides, or going to any of their shows.  I'm just going to walk the park, see the outside exhibits and enjoy some summer.

18 hours ago, fladogfan aka Gretchen said:

My favorite book series.  When the ability to make dragons look real on film started I said , Oh boy Pern!   But then I read that Anne McCafery was not in favor of her stories being put on film.  Think it had to do with being able to control the story line. Too many books I've enjoyed reading left a lot to be desired when put on film.   It would take long films to create most of her Pern books.

But wouldn't it be wonderful to see all the people and dragons we've come to love.

I'm re-reading my Pern books during this lockdown, very nice.

I would love to see them onscreen.  I fear that Anne McCaffery was probably right.  Her son, Todd McCaffery has written out some books in her world, and while they are good, they don't have quite the same feel to them.  He has been to a number of conventions where I was able to speak with him, and he was once excited that a canadian producer was looking into the books as a possible movie series.  This was just after the 2nd Jurassic Park movie came out, and Todd was dabbling in computer art with the dragons.  I guess nothing ever came from that. 

I think people put too much faith in critics.  I know you  have to choose where your money goes, but I don't think these movies are so bad.  I liked John Carter of Mars, and I loved The Lone Ranger.   In fact, that movie was the first one in a long time where I was wanting to watch it again, immediately.  It was fun and unexpectedly different. 

The critic I follow gave Artemis Fowl an F, and I can't understand why.  The movie entertained me, and I was not bored and I enjoyed the story very much.  It's a B in my book.  

I guess I'm easily amused.  I haven't wanted to walk out on a movie since 'The Tale of Despereaux'. 

As for another movie franchise, they need to stop trying to wrangle the old stories into new, more PC versions of the popular tales.   People loved the stories for what they are, and changing them to a 'directors view of what it should have been' ruins it more than anything.  A Wrinkle in Time is a good example.  What the hell was that movie doing?  Everything I loved about the book was gone. 

They should look at popular fantasy / sci fi.  That is where the money is.  Dragonriders of Pern would make a great franchise for a more adult movie set.  The alternative lifestyle in the weyrs is a decent fit for today's crowd, anyway. 

I got mine on Saturday!  One on the fridge and 2 on the car.  Love 'em!  Thanks for making these.

On 6/8/2020 at 3:59 PM, AuburnJen said:

I have sent invoices to everyone here on this thread.  Going over to FB and getting those.  Please let me know if there are issues with the requests.

I'm missing my invoice.   @yahoo.com is the e-mail, please. 

I have to say, I have never been so happy to have retained Jason as my travel advisor for this round.  My reservations aren't until December, so I expect things will change a number of times before I get there.  Nice to have someone watching it like a hawk for me. 

Thanks Jason, for all you do!

I will take a set, and one extra 'missing the mouse' please.  3 total. 

11 hours ago, rjpete said:

i would think he knows better.

Since when has that ever stopped a blogger / youtuber?

I am holding onto my hope for my December vacation.  I'm betting the parks will be open again, the question is will my Disney fund remain intact through all this. 

That'll give a bit of humor to the grim situations.  If you see a doctor or nurse wearing a poncho with the mouse, you can honestly say: " what kind of Mickey Mouse operation is this?!"

11 minutes ago, Travisma said:

Hmmm, their Emperor doesn't want them open by Easter?

I can't tell if that's sarcasm or not.. lol.  Easter doesn't mean much to Buddhists. Anyway, gave me a giggle for the morning. 

Quote

Jeff's timeline regarding his COVID-19 infection is terrifying and should be eye-opening for people of all ages. According to his family, he flew from L.A. to Orlando on March 2 for a work conference, but stayed a few extra days to visit Disney World and Universal theme parks with friends.

We're told on March 7 he developed a cough, and the next day he coughed up blood. He flew back to LAX on March 9 ...not good how many others did infect? and immediately went to the ER, where he also had a high fever.

Since you carry the virus 5 to 14 days before symptoms show up, he was probably ill when he got on the plane, or caught it on the plane to Orlando in the first place. 

This is a disaster of such a magnitude as I never expected to see.  Even staying home now for a month, it's not going to stop infections, and IF everyone tries to return to business as normal in May, then it will fire up again, and we will just have kicked the curve down the line.  The virus is here to stay, and all we can do is try to slow it down so the hospitals can keep up and hope that someone can create a vaccine, fast.  It still does not kill the majority of people.  It's more contagious than we thought, but 75% of the population will probably not need hospitalization.  It's just that we don't have enough hospitals for the 25% that will need it. 

Sounds like a really fun and educational trip!  What great memories you will build. 

I will miss riding SE when I visit this December, but I am excited for the new version.  EPCOT has always been the park that I don't mind them changing.  It almost always brings on amazing and fun new content. With the exception of  Frozen.   RIP Maelstrom.

So for WDW, what would the best solution have been?  Considering the difficulties in getting this ride online, on both coasts, should they have waited until they could have done the CM previews in order to run high demand stress tests?   Even if the ride at DHS was operating at full capacity, the BP option is still better than opening with all standby lines.  Not having to wait 2, 4, 6 or more hours in line is a good thing, to my way of thinking.  It doesn't matter if the ride is running perfectly.  Because it is new, it will still have a huge demand on it for a number of years.  Look at 7DMT.  That's a kiddie coaster.  In any other park it would never have generated a 20 minute line, much less the 3 hour lines it had the first year of operation. 

I don't believe there is any scenario where the opening of RotR would not have been some sort of s**t show.

I apologize for the error of thinking the CM's, both current and retired, got preview rides. 

24 minutes ago, Tri-Circle-D said:

I am glad that y’all got to ride, but your experience confirms the point I’ve been trying to make in this thread- the roll out of this attraction is a fail and Disney should be ashamed of itself.

How is it fun to have to be at a park an hour before it opens and hope that you’re one of the lucky few to be assigned a boarding group before they’re all gone in less than 3 minutes?  And even with a boarding group, the ride is broken down when you’re called, causing a 90 minute wait in the queue when it finally reopens?  And this is the best they can do with 50,000+ castmembers and retirees blocked out of the park?

Absolutely ridiculous.

TCD 

I'm not sure it's ridiculous.  We were all joking about lines all the way up to New York for this new land when it opened.  If the system was not set up this way, we would be seeing 8 hour lines or more for the ride.  90 minutes is reasonable, considering. Galaxies Edge is by far the biggest, most popular expansion of a Disney park, ever.  There are so many Star Wars fans out there that want to experience this that Disney is going to be making bank on it for years. Most of us were smart enough to plan our vacations for AFTER the entire area was opened, and we are seeing the influx of those fans now.  I made my plans for a year after the planned opening, hoping the newness would wear off a bit.  Now, I'm wondering if I should have waited another year.  

No other expansion to a park is coming with a completely themed resort and special Role Playing packages, you know?

It sucks for the CMs who are blocked out, I agree.  However, since those same employees were given special days to ride the ride before it opened, I don't see the restrictions as unreasonable. 

I really hope one of the more active, hardcore LARPing groups gets together to  do this experience.  I would really want to watch, and would love to participate.  I'm sure the regular guests will be totally freaked out, though.  I wonder how Disney will handle it if player groups start showing up.

I have not been to the Fort's dog park, but I have owned and loved whippets since 1983.  I've had over 8 whippets in my life, and fostered a dozen others for whippet rescue.   

Since you have over a year to plan here are my suggestions for your new whippet family member: 

Teach your whippet to respect baby gates in your house.  If the dog learns not to jump a baby gate, they generally will not jump a short fence.  

Make a flirt pole and teach your pup to love it.  I use a buggy whip ( bought at a feed store) with a 4 foot length of rope on it.  I have a rubber donut tied on the end, to which I attach a cured rabbit skin ( can be found at hobby lobby or craft stores).    You can use the flirt pole at the dog park if you are the only dog in the place or if there is an open area where other dogs are over 25 yards away.  Most dogs don't go after flirt poles.  10 minutes of flirt pole play, 20 minutes of walking or regular play then 10 more minutes of flirt pole play will make for a tired whippet. 

Invest in a 30 foot long lead.  This can also be found at a feed store, as a horse lunge line.  When you are out in a big field where there are no fences, you can stand on the end of the lunge line and still safely play with the flirt pole.  Caveat:  Never play fetch with any loose toy while the dog is on the lunge line.  If the toy gets away, the dog may hit the end of that leash going 35 MPH, and that is dangerous. 

Use the lunge line to practice recalls and check ins.   Let the dog roam to the end of the leash, then call them back and have a spectacular reward waiting ( like steak / liver / stinky cheese)  Praise, reward and then let the dog roam off again.  Also, invest in a loud whistle that you can take with you on walks.  Teach the dog to come to the whistle, both on and off leash, with the same spectacular reward.  Whistle sounds carry further than human voice, and if your whippet ever gets lost this is a great way to help them find their way back to you. 

Using Doggy Day Care at Best Friends may also be a good bet.  If you get your pup in on the first or second day of your vacation, it should keep them tired for 2 days after.  If you whippet is less than 2 years at the time of your trip, s/he'll have a great time at day care.  If they are over 2 years, you can expect them to be a little more reserved around other 'non sighthound' dogs, but still have a good time at day care.  Whippets are snobs, and prefer socializing with other whippets / greyhounds / sighthounds as they get older.  They will start to ignore other breeds. 

Feel free to message me if you would like any other whippet related tips. 

23 hours ago, Travisma said:

You're in TX and you can't find Chorizo?

Most little Hispanic stores and a lot of the major grocery stores sell them here in Tampa.

HA!  of course I can find chorizo.  It's everywhere, and I don't really like the stuff I find here.  What they served at EPCOT though.. OMG.  I guess they make them there.  They are just barely bigger than cocktail sausages,  have a firmer texture than most Mexican chorizo, but still have the chili/ garlic flavor profile.  It's a little less than a year until my next visit to WDW, and I can't wait to get back to that restaurant. 

14 hours ago, Part-Time Paradise said:

After shoveling the drive for the fourth time today, I'm done with winter and ready to start thinking about my summer trip.  My ADR window opens on Christmas Eve.  I've been mulling around what I want to shoot for.  Not a WDW rookie, but a FW rookie.  Between my 3 other trips and studying the forum and other sites I've narrowed a list.  Unfortunately a lot of reviews I've found are months or years old.  Here's what I've been mulling around:

-For sure we're hitting HDDR.

-Also going to Trail's End (I know it's not a ADR joint).  If you had to chose one meal would you choose breakfast, brunch, or the lunch/dinner spread?

-Any visceral reactions to:

     o Coral Reef?

     o San Angel Inn?

     o Be Our Guest?

-Any other favorites at World Showcase?

Thanks in advance for any recent experiences.

 

Jack

San Angel Inn was good.  I remember a nice shrimp cocktail, and overlooking the Three Caballeros ride is fun.  I prefer La Hacienda de San Angel,  outside the pyramid.  The 2 person grilled sampler was SO over the top good.  We got the one with beef, chicken and chorizo.  I thought I would like the beef the best, and it was really good, but I still dream about being able to find those little sausages again.  Everything about that meal was amazing to me.  The sides, the dessert,  the chicken was even better than the beef.

Also, I can't go to EPCOT without eating at least once at Nine Dragons.  I always get some sort of chicken dish, and have never been disappointed.  It's different than the usual Chinese food you get in the USA.  It's fresher somehow,  more snappy a flavor profile.  

I've never been to Coral Reef, and count me on the list who were not impressed by BOG.  Too noise, food sub par. 

10 hours ago, h2odivers...Ray said:

Thanks for the info. 
Any word on how they are handling DAS return times?

From the way Josh ( easywdw) was talking about the virtual queue, that is the DAS return time.  There is no standby line, and no FP+ for RotR.  Once your boarding group is called, you have 2 hours to get to the ride.  Everyone is reporting that once you get your boarding group called, your wait time will be no longer than 10 to 20 minutes. 

If the ride goes down while you are in the early part of the queue, you will get an anytime FP+ added digitally to your MDE.   If you are already on the preshow or ride when it goes down, you will get a paper anytime FP+.  Those FP+ are the ONLY ones currently good for RotR.

If you happen to be in a late boarding group, and your group never gets called that day, Disney has been giving out a one day Park Hopper pass along with an anytime FP+ good for RotR.  Current rumor has it that the boarding groups move slower in the morning, due to Disney accommodating the previous days non-worked boarding groups. 

What a nice story.  I love these little bits of magic. 

I second the French Bakery at EPCOT for breakfast.  Sit outside in the area, and it's the perfect setting to discuss things like 'Where in the world would you really like to visit?" and gets a great 'what do you want your future to be' conversation rolling.  It's fun to hear what your kids dreams are, when they are that close to adulthood.   To keep the conversation moving, agree with everything, don't bring reality like money into it.