CKCK

There were a few great picture opportunities from the skyride:

 

 

 

Yeah, those were definitely good photo opps.  Miss that ride, though what they have there now is way better for my girls.  Guess it has to evolve with the generations!

You're brave carrying all that stuff on a plane by yourself!  

I count 4 1/2 pics.  The Star Trek pic counts as a half.  

You better make up for that in the next post!  

More pics!

Still Day 3:

Okay, NOW this is the moment you have all been waiting for.  Arrival of reds.  

We’ll pick it back up with their lunch at Cracker Barrel.  For the past two years now they have stopped here for lunch.  For some reason the girls were really excited about it.  

After they ate the girls wouldn’t leave because they wanted to finish coloring their pictures for Mommy and Daddy.

Check out DD5’s shirt.

Meanwhile, back at the Fort...

Check out this steering wheel cooler:

That’s pretty slick, but I don’t know I would ever really use it.  I’m never in the GC for so long that I need to take a bunch of drinks with me.

This is standing just at the entrance of the dog walk in the back of the 1800 loop.  

You can’t see the tower, but you can see the lower portion of it.  Maybe with binoculars you will be able to see the yuppies on the lazy river from here.

booo.

Finally it was time for the redheads to arrive.  

I have to say that while DW and I LOVE the calmness and time to ourselves at the Fort when the girls are not there, it just isn’t the same without them!  They are so excited to be at the Fort that the entire time they are not there we’re just wishing that they were!

Here’s an action shot of my battle with sand:

That electric blower equals me winning.

While my mom was busy orchestrating a tornado in our camper, PaPa and the girls went for a bike ride/dog walk.

See the look on DD3’s face?

She does that a lot.

On this occasion it was because we were coming to the realization that she thinks she is ready for a big girl bike like her sister.

She has reminded us several times since then.  

It has become a tradition for us to grill steaks on the first night that my parents arrive at the Fort.  This was their third time coming to the Fort with us and we have grilled steaks every time.  I don’t care what stands in our way, we are grilling steaks no matter what.  

Here was the scene last year in the 1600 loop:

Luckily the scene was much different this year:

Way better.  And using my own grill was way better.

And we had that thing loaded down.

Anyone agree that everything tastes better at the Fort?

I love grilling, and we grill often at home.

But it’s so much better at the Fort.

Our plan was to go to the campfire sing-a-long.  

That is one of our favorite things to do at the Fort.  

The girls love it.  DW loves it.  Even I love it.

HOWEVER, several things can ruin it for me.

1. Bugs.  Add in heat, humidity, and sweat and I become a bug magnet.  That’s never fun.

2.  The wrong cowboy.  My favorites are Cowboy Anthony and Cowboy Mark.  Chuckwagon Bill (aka Jackwagon Bill or Suckwagon Bill) can ruin a night.  He’s a nice person and a fine guitar player/singer, but a bad sing-a-long leader.  Luckily we ended up with Cowboy Anthony so we were okay in that area.

3. And finally, annoying people that don’t understand personal space.

Guess which of those we encountered on this night.  

If you guessed number 1, then you would be right.  That was a gimme.  Luckily I was rocking bug spray so it wasn’t too bad.  

If you guessed number 2, then you weren’t paying attention because I already said it was okay.

If you guessed number 3, then you have arrived at another of my pet peeves.  

The great thing about the Fort is that you can get away from all of the crowds of the parks and all the people that do not understand personal space and courtesy.  

Or so I thought.

A ginormous family, that very well may have not been from around here, came up and decided to sit on the same bleachers as us. 

They could have sat anywhere on the bleachers, as we were the only people on them.

Where did they sit?

DIRECTLY behind and all around us.  

Awesome.

I was poked by a marshmallow stick not once, but twice.  Both times were accidents, but annoying nonetheless.  Only one time did the kid say sorry.

I was bumped.  

I was breathed on. 

I was irritated.

But I kept my mouth shut so as not to ruin anyone’s night (except my own).

I did take pictures.

The worst thing about it was that we never made it back to the campfire during this trip.

booo.

We’ll take a break here.  Tomorrow morning we head to Epcot rope drop so MaMa and PaPa can finally ride Soarin’ and then we head over to the MK.  

And I have some really good redhead pictures in store.

Bam.

Whoa-

 

You are bringing the heat!

 

I just caught up, and have many comments, but I will limit them to 15:

 

1.  I have the exact same watch as you.  I wonder what that means?

2. I knew about the Victory Garden, but not the war vignettes.  I learned something new!

3.  Both you and the Mrs. did good at the animation class.  Those are two good Daisies.

4.  I agree with your cart driver PSA.  Things have gotten bad at the Fort in that regard.

5.  I always wondered if citronella candles were OK.  They sell those bucket candles in the Trading Post for Pete's sake.

6.  I don't know what they are building there in Epcot, but if I had three guesses, I would guess a new Starbucks twice.

7.  I can't believe that you found that $10 bill I lost at Epcot!  I'll get it from you the next time I see you.

8.  That Panini y'all got there in Italy is the strangest one I've ever seen.  Although the truth is I haven't seen too many.

9.  That Rainbow over Epcot Torch Thingy photo is one of the nicest rainbow over Epcot torch thingy photos I've seen.

10. You sure saw a lot of cardinals that day you went to AK.  It probably means something. Some kind of sign.

11. I don't know what that crane is doing at AK, but if you gave me three guesses, I would use two to guess that they're building a new Starbucks.

12.  I never knew the elephant pool had steps.  That makes two new things I learned from your report.

13. Nice Rhino photo.

14. Never knew that the Fort was dissed at the AK bus stop.  Three things!

15. BAM!!

 

TCD

1.  Great minds think alike

2.  Bam.

3.  Thanks!  I can't wait to do more.

4.  I'm about to make that my new mission.  War on dumb GC drivers/scooter riders/skateboarders.

5.  Dumb.

6.  Probably right.  I just read that Starbucks increased their prices again.  Who can afford that stuff anymore?

7.  I'll make sure I save your money for you.

8.  I thought Paninis were supposed to be flat.  Guess not in Italy.

9.  I know right!  Best one I've ever taken too.

10. Go Cards.

11. They're probably going to raise their prices again to pay for all the new ones.

12. Bam.

13. Thanks.

14. Bam.

15.  BAM!!!

Excellent report.  I also see what all the fuss is about.  Those two girls are super cute.

 

However, all due respect, I have 2 young children.  I know the truth.  Its why they keep cute dangerous animals behind glass.

 

Thanks for the food info, what's a snack without mouse crap?

 

ZOINK

Thanks!  Yeah, the girls take a good picture, but steer clear if you catch them in a sassy mood...which they get from their mother.

My kids are from the UPS man, I don't judge

Did you get free shipping?

What the heck?  Mouse poop?  I'm not paying for mouse poop.  I can get that for free out in the barns.

 

My goodness, they only get cuter each trip.  You are in some serious trouble when your girls discover boys.

It was Mickey's.

Yeah, not looking forward to teenage years so much.

Now we're into a TR !   The stars have arrived !   By the way...  what exactly was the mouse poop?  Burnt sesame seeds?   I also gave you props on the bourbon..   See I'm just mostly in it for the adorable redheads..

 

Yeah, yeah, yeah.  Stars.  Who cares about me?

Mouse poop was sesame seeds.  

Great safari!  We had one a couple of years ago where the rhinos pulled the "You shall not pass!" routine and we had to wait.  They were so close when we finally went by that I'm pretty sure I could have reached down and touched one.  ...if I were completely nuts. 

 

Love Maharajah Jungle Trek.  I could spend ages watching the bats (DH waits outside-LOL) and could stare at the tigers even longer.

 

Those mouse poop noodles actually look pretty tasty.  Have to give them a try next time.

 

 

BAM!

The safari is growing on me.  If they would cut out the rest of the fake information I would be happier.  Like the reserve opening in 1971.  Right.  They talk to us like we're stupid.  

Right now I am saying to myself..."self, this guy is hilarious!"

 

I also have a redhead courtesy of the UPS man. They're the best! 

Thanks!  Glad you're reading along!  

Excellent update.

 

Was the Mouse poop officially licensed by Mickey?

 

I agree that you may have issues when those younglings get to dating age.

 

It is nothing that can't be fixed by you answering the door wearing a Glock though.

 

Beckers--I snarfed hot coffee through my nose when I read the UPS man comment.  It actually helped me clear my sinuses though so no worries.

Thanks.

It was official Mickey Mouse poop, so yes.

I definitely have plans for when the girls start dating!

That cupcake looks yummy.

I believe that crane is for building the new Lion King pavilion because the current one is going to be torn down for Avatar Land.

More reds please!!!!

Yum... La Cava and Tutto Gusto!!!!

Interesting.  Maybe I won't have to walk as far to see the Festival of the Lion King now.  

Yada, yada, yada, heard it and seen it all before, but I'll endure it for this.

You mean you're actually admitting to reading this? 

I'm honored.  

Okay, but there better be a bunch of pictures!

Day 3: Thursday, June 13

Now is where this TR gets exciting.  

Redheads.  

I know, none of you care about all the food and drinks we’ve had, or any of the pics we’ve had so far.

It’s okay.  I’m used to it by now.

My family does the same thing.

I have all of my mom’s pics mixed in with my own, so that means we will get to see her pics...synchronized with my own.  So while DW and I are at the Fort and AK we can see what the reds were doing. 

Kinda cool if you ask me.

Let’s stop stalling.

MaMa and PaPa left our house with the girls about 7:30 that morning.  That picture cracks me up.

They’re getting so old.

At that same time, DW and I were getting ready to leave the Fort to go to the AK.

Today would be the day of Cardinals.

Not that every day isn’t a Cardinal day.  

duh.

Go Cards.  

Best record in baseball (barely).

Regardless, we have several cardinal encounters.

Here’s the first one at the campsite:

As usual, we were let in the AK early.

Obligatory tree of life pic:

We grabbed our EE FP’s and headed towards the safari.  

On the way, I took some pics.

And guess what I saw.

Bam.

Cardinal #2.  This one was looking a little rough.  Possibly from the night before.  

Too much bird partying.

We stopped by the monkeys.  Turns out, there are two monkey things.  

Never knew that.  

The inside monkey thing nearest the Kali River Rapids had a baby monkey.

We probably sat for 15 minutes watching it.  

It was amazing to see how the monkey families interacted.  Also crazy to watch how the mama monkey was letting the baby crawl around and try out the ropes...literally.  

Then the CM came in to feed them, so they all moved down towards the bottom.  That was crazy.  The mama monkey just started going down and the baby just hung on.  

Crazy.

What’s going on here?

Is this already work for Avatar Land?

And while we’re on the subject, I can say that I’m not sold on Avatar Land yet.

I just don’t feel that the movie ended up being big enough to warrant an entire land based on it.  We’ll see...

We finally made it to the safari.

I have never been a huge fan of it, but it’s something to do, and it’s neat to see some of the animals.  However, the whole fake ant mounds and baobab trees get old.  Or like when the CM will tell you that the elephants have been there leaving their trunk marks on the ground.  

Okay, whatever you say.  

That’s why I’m glad they finally quit that whole poacher scenario.  I hated that.  

Regardless, this ended up being our coolest safari to date.

We sat in the very front, which was cool because I could see everything that the CM did.  

We passed some people on the Wild Africa Trek.

Now that’s something that would be cool.  You get to have a guided tour, go over rope bridges, and get a fantastic meal.  

I’m down.

Check out the elephant’s pool:

It has steps.  

Do you think that the ponds in Africa have steps for the elephants?

Of course, I bet they’re also not made out of concrete in Africa.

We thought that was going to be our closest encounter with white rinos.

We were wrong.

Two more of them decided they wanted to be all up in our business and blocked the road.

So much so that the CM put the truck in park and got on her little phone thing and called it in that they were blocking the road.  

She tried to get by one time, but the rhino moved and we couldn’t pass.

Finally they moved over enough for us to get by.  That was when we got really cool pics.

We finally made it past and saw something you wouldn’t expect to see on an African safari:

See it in the middle of that pic above the fallen tree?

Another cardinal!  

Bam!

After the safari we headed back to EE.

Have you ever walked through the Maharajah Jungle Trek?

We have.

It has a lot of cool animals on it. 

Like giant bats.

These things are crazy.

What we found out was that they will actually follow commands.  Each bat has it’s “person” that it listens to.  The CM can come in and call a bat’s name and it will come over.  Then the CM can get it to turn around, spread it’s wings, or whatever.  

Crazy.

Check out the dude in the middle:

I think he escaped from one of the AK attractions.

We decided to go try the Festival of the Lion King.

It was awesome.  

We have to take the girls back next time.

My second favorite WD quote:

Before we left we had to get food.

duh.

DW had two things in mind, so we went and got summer rolls and some Asian noodles.

Aside from the mouse poop on the noodles they were both really good.  

Not your typical theme park food.  They were both cold, and surprisingly refreshing.  They didn’t make you feel all weighed down with grease and friedness.  We would definitely get them again.

On our way out I found another escapee:

What’s with all the red hair?

What do you notice about this sign?

Look carefully.  

No Fort.

What the Fort?

How are they going to list the Lodge but not the Fort?

Obviously we knew that the Lodge bus is the Fort bus, but what about the people who don’t know that?  

Are they supposed to start walking?

Stop dissing the Fort, Disney!

That’s it for this update.

I know you were expecting a lot more of the redheads.  

That didn't happen, because MaMa didn't take many pics while they were on the road until they stopped for lunch.

So they will be all up in the next update.

Just to give you another tease, I’ll end with a pic from their lunch break at Cracker Barrel:

We’ll pick it up from there next time!

I'm in and just in time for the Redheads! 

 

Bam!

Of course.  Join the club.

Where did the red heads get the red from? You nor wifey look red headed?

If you ask my grandpa he'll tell you the milkman.

I disagree.

BAM

What I'm talking about!

I can see your kids did not get their hair from you.  

Or maybe that's where all of yours went...

I am here.

 

 

 

Drunken Donuts.

 

 

 

 

Butterfinger Cupcake.

 

 

 

Drinks around the world.

 

 

 

We wants the Redheads!

Aaron wins.

Nice walk around the world.  Sorry about getting the shoe wine again.  Ick.  Not sure I would call those paninis either.  Look more like stuff on a roll to me.

 

Gives us the Redheads!

 

Argh!

Loving the report. 

 

And extremely jealous because the whole "Kidless" Disney won't happen until #2 is in college(he's 6).  So I live vicariously through you...

 

ZOOM

Bring on the stars !   We want the redheads !!    POW !!

Redheads! Redheads! Redheads! Redheads!

Really?  You just use me for the redheads?  At least CoachClough had relevant comments!

Okay fine. The next update will have redheads.  I'll get to work...

mmm....dessert

Still Day 2:

At some point during this day (don’t remember when) we went looping and came across MicknMin setting up camp.  We had a nice chat and found out that they were waiting on a GC key because they didn’t have theirs.  Luckily they had a daughter who picked one up on the way down.

That is one of my biggest fears...forgetting the GC key, charger, or more importantly forgetting the keys to the TT.  

On a side note, later in the trip we had a neighbor come down to our site who was locked out of their TT.  They had stepped outside and somehow the door locked behind them.  We couldn’t figure out how that could happen, but somehow it did.  They borrowed every tool I could find but still couldn’t get in.  I think about every Fort maintenance worker ended up at their site trying to help them (and totally blocked the loop and parked all up on the grass).  They eventually had to call a locksmith.  

While one of the Fort rangers was there trying to “help”, he couldn’t help himself but to scold them.  They had a little citronella candle, the kind in the bucket, burning on the table.  

He made them put it out because it was an open flame.

Seriously.

Way to kick them while they are down.  

I only took one pic of our afternoon at the Fort.  

And it involves a PSA.

I wish I had taken a video of this whole scene.  

At least 2 of these golf carts were together.  

Carrying on a conversation.

While driving two wide down the road.

What you can’t see in this pic was the best part.

The cart on the front right was pushing someone on an ECV.

Seriously.  You can’t make this stuff up.

Then they decided they needed to block the road to figure out where they were going next.

?

How can people be so unaware of their surroundings and the people around them?  I have ranted about self-centeredness in the past.  Yet it seems that I generally have more and more to rant about each trip.

People are sucking more.

As far as the golf cart thing goes, my wife thinks that people get to the Fort, get in their Fort “zone,” and forget that they are driving carts on roads that have other people on them as well.

I think people are just dumb.

So next time you want to have a conversation with people in another golf cart, please get out of the flipping road.

Oh, and don’t drive the flipping ECVs on the roads.  

Duh.

End PSA.  

It was Epcot time.

We didn’t know they were working here just as you enter the World Showcase.

Anyone know what they’re doing there?  I know about the new food place in Morocco, but this is on the other side of the lagoon.

We didn’t really have a plan of attack for the evening, other than that we were going to get some food and drinks as we made our way around.

Our first stop was at guest services inside the park to pick up a new Disney Visa redemption card.  

Had to get my redemption on.

While waiting in there, my wife continued our financial winning.

She found a crumpled up $10 bill under a chair.  

No one was around, nor had there been anyone there for awhile.  

She sat there waiting while I took care of things to see if anyone would come in.

No one did. 

I felt a little bad, because eventually someone was going to realize they were $10 short, but if we didn’t take it someone else would.

So we did.

I guess I’ll have to pay it forward.

Our first stop was La Cava de Tequila in Mexico for chips, queso, and a jalepeño margarita.

Did I mention we were bagless again?  Sorry for the crummy pics.

After Mexico we worked our way down to Italy to Tutto Gusto.

I really dig their lights.

We split a wine flight and each got a panini.

If you read CKCK 3.0 you might remember that we went here last summer.

And got wine.

One of the wines was awful.  So awful that we named it new shoe wine because that’s what it tasted like.

Well guess what.

We got it again.  It was the Tre..  

Now we know.  No more new shoe wine.

The paninis were okay.  I wished they would have been pressed more, but whatever.  They came with a lettuce wedge...aka “salad.”  All in all they went well with the wine.

From here we left and headed towards France.  I didn’t get a pic, but we obviously got a Grand Marnier slushy.

duh. 

Some pics along the way:

I love the caladiums all around WDW right now.  The MK is rocking a bunch as well.

Maybe it was just the angle we were at, but it took me forever to figure out that the big building behind Canada is Soarin’.  It was really confusing me just because it looked so out of place there.

I call this photo, Rainbow over Epcot torch thing.

At this point we were getting some wicked lightning all over the place.  I was worried that we were about to have a storm drop on us and wanted to get back to the Fort. 

Turns out the rain never happened, so we ended up going to the beach to watch fireworks when we got back to the Fort.

The greatest thing about the entire night?  Between the $10 DW found and our visa redemption points, I only spent $1 out of pocket for the entire night.

Bam.

Tomorrow would be a big day, because not only would we be going to the AK and experiencing some new-to-us things, but the redheads would also be coming!

Nice job on Daisy!  And totally agree about Stitch (ugh)

 

I don't know why we haven't done Animation Academy - I always completely forget about it when we're there.

 

Guess I need to put it on my spreadsheet.

 

The butterfinger cupcake is pretty killer but definitely better with cooler temps and a big glass of milk... and maybe a FrIEND to split it with.

 

 

BAM!

Thanks

You definitely need to do it

Spreadsheet would work

My wife (in all of her reading about food) told me that there are people who just go around eating cupcakes all day.

That's crazy.  I don't know if I could finish one, let alone several throughout the day.  

The butterfinger cupcake was our must do too.  The red velvet was good too.  The peanut butter one was too much peanut butter and it ended up getting left behind and put in the garbage.

The salad, no bacon.  It has tiny chopped apples, candied walnuts, cheddar cheese, blue cheese and this dressing I cannot describe. [they had two salads, one with a dark dressing and one with the lighter color dressing, this is the light one] It normally comes with chicken, but I think the chicken ruins the clean taste of the other ingredients.  It has shrunk some, which I was not expecting and the price didn't, which I was expecting.

Daisy looks good.  I would not want to do Stitch either.

Looking forward to more food.

 

Ker Plonk!

Good to know about the peanut butter cupcake.

What kind of salad doesn't have bacon on it?  I'm skeptical.  And I feel like all food portions are shrinking around WDW...but none of the prices are.

Better get to that lights motor action stunt show soon. They will be tearing it out and putting Carsland and Star Wars land in its place. The Backlot tour is also being taken out.

 

The below sign is actually from the new Lone Ranger movie. It is supposed to read "Justice For All Courthouse". It has been refurbished because in the movie it was destroyed.

 

I don't think it will upset me at all for the backlot tour to be taken out.  Jury is still out on the stunt show...I need to see it first!  I look forward to the day that DHS has more though.  It definitely needs some updated and additions in my opinion. 

Interesting that they already have a prop from a movie that hasn't been released yet.  But from the signs in the buses and everywhere else, I guess they're really pushing that movie.

I can dig the coyote video.  Just like dogs. 

Except not.

Still Day 2:

Animation time!

I have to admit, I never really knew much about the animation academy.  It really wasn’t until I started reading about it in you-know-who’s trip reports.  

Not having the girls with us yet, this was the perfect time to try it out.

I forget our artist’s name, but she was good.  I loved the whole thing.  

Air conditioning.

Low lights.

Soft speaking artist teaching us to draw.

I totally dug it.  

We drew Daisy.  We got to vote, and the voting came down between Daisy and Stitch.

Who in the Fort wants to draw Stitch?  

I wish Stitch would finally make his great escape and get out of here.

That was harsh.

So Daisy it was.

Here’s what she was supposed to look like:

Here was DW’s:

Not too shabby.  

Here was mine:

Now I don’t know about you, but I think I pretty much

ROCKED it.

Though I do have to say that she was relatively easy to draw.  Not that I have drawn others, I just think that she probably was one of the more simple ones.  

We will definitely be back for more.

When we left we decided to head to the Backlot Tour.  We had wanted to ride it for the past few trips but it was always closed for rain or something else.  My wife had memories of riding it many years ago, so we wanted to check it out.

On the way there I snapped this:

Not really understanding those.

At this point it was 9:51.

Here was the return on TSM fast passes:

Fortunately we were not in the market for any of those today.

We finally made it to the Backlot Tour.  I thought it was okay.  I liked seeing some of the things on it, but I also thought there was a lot of crap.  

We had to watch their little “movie filming” thing first.  

The people they picked to be in it really irritated me.  I kind of wished the guy in the engine room would have washed away.

I also kind of dug the little prop storage room thingy, but wished I could have browsed a bit more.

I don’t think this garbage truck was supposed to be on the tour.

This looked like a practice area for the Lights Motors Action show.

I have always wanted to see that show, but we are never in the park long enough for it to start.  For some reason it doesn’t start until around 1:00 or something.  I think that’s crazy.  I’m sure there is a reason for it, but I haven’t figured it out yet.  

We saw the fake P-40s that were used in “Pearl Harbor.”  

They didn’t look real at all up close, but from far away I thought they were real.

We really enjoyed the part where the tram went through the building with the seamstresses, designers, and set builders.  Wished it would have slowed down!

I have no idea what this thing is from:

See that space shippy thing over there?

I immediately recognized that from “Flight of the Navigator.”  I always kind of liked that movie, but it has been years since I’ve seen it.  I thought it was interesting that they still have a prop from it.

Turns out that there is another prop from that movie in Tomorrow Land.  I didn’t realize it until later on in the trip.  We’ll get to that later.

My favorite part of the ride was coming up.  I had read about it before the trip so I knew it was coming.

Walt’s Gulfstream that he used to scope out land for Disney and that served the company for years after.  

My wife had recently found a really good article on the “Mouse” on the Disney parks blog.  I especially like the part that it landed on World Drive when they finally retired it.

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/05/take-a-flight-back-in-time-with-the-mouse/

I think it’s absolutely ridiculous that they have this storied plane sitting out in the elements.  They should at least put a roof over it.  Now it’s just baking away in the Florida sun and rain.  

Across from it is another plane.

These guys were underneath disaster canyon.

They’re kind of like the Fort’s brown paint guy, except they are the DHS gray paint guys.

Here’s a better pic of the Flight of the Navigator ship:

After that we were about done, and it was getting time to get back to the Fort to check on the dogs.  

Before we left we had to complete one other mission that had been on our list for awhile.  

Starring Rolls.  

Bam.

Butterfinger cupcake.

Bam again.

That thing was huge.

And good.

We barely finished it though.  

Honestly, it would have been better if it hadn’t been about noon in the summer in Florida.  Give me that thing on a nice fall day with a big glass of milk and it will be in trouble.

And that ends our morning.  We headed back to the Fort to relax before heading to Epcot.

You know what that means.  

Food and drinks.

Bam.

You get to see the fireworks first...

is that guy above the start of the zombie apocalypse?

Which guy?  The scarecrow or Uncle Sam?  I'm guessing the scarecrow.  

Could be.

Great TR.   Want more!!!

 

Kah Rack!!!

Thanks!  

Not sure about kah rack though.  Maybe it will grow on me.

Well if this is how you jump back in after going missing, then you should go away more often...

 

Kidding!!

 

BAM!

Umm...thanks?  I'll be sure to go away more often!  

OK, I have a suggestion for the next TDD Trip Report.

 

Hear me out.

 

Don't say no until you've pondered it good.

 

Just consider it.

 

I think you should do a TCD Does the Fort Solo report.

 

OK, do not say no yet.

 

You haven't heard me out.

 

I know it would be sorta lonely...well, very lonely, without your girls, but just consider...

 

You could do a long weekend and just focus on a TCD Tours the Fort perspective. You could go into excruciating detail about everything you see and find. Since you'd be doing it solo, you could write the report on-the-fly, while you're there, and us Fort Fiends could keep you company electronically.

 

Just a thought. It would be a fun read. Maybe not quite as fun for you, but lots of fun for us.

OR...he could have a contest for Fiends to win a weekend at the Fort with TCD!

Genius!  

Not only would they get to be at the Fort, they would also have the best tour guide the entire time!

I call dibs on the first one.  

Let's get going into the next day a little.

Day 2: Wednesday, June 12.

After my magic cookie bar breakfast (of champions), we headed over to DHS for ropedrop and AP pickup.  We got there super early (how we roll).  I had to pick up new APs for DW and DD5, and purchase a new one for DD3.

For those of you who have ever bought an AP for a 3 year old, you will understand my agony.  

Over $600 for a 3 year old?  Even I think I’m crazy.  

But, for the number of days we will be there in the next year, it’s worth it.

But it’s ridiculous.  

While the CM was working on our stuff, she realized that the AP renewal discounts had gone up since I had renewed.  For some reason, that meant we got a refund.

Bam!

So I got about $22 on a Disney gift card...that didn’t last long, but sure was nice!

Here are some sights of the morning.

As has become standard for most parks other than the MK, they let us in early.  

I kind of expected them to do a second rope drop in the park, but they let us go free.

I am anti run through the park to get to TSM.  I think it’s absolutely ridiculous to watch grown people running down the street with their kids in tow while CMs yell at them to not run just so they can get to the fastpass machine 30 seconds before the next person.

Seriously people?  

Slow freaking down!  Getting there 30 seconds before the next person is not going to make that big of a difference!  Chill out!  Just walk and be normal.

Regardless, we headed down to RnR since the girls were not with us. 

When we got there they weren’t letting us in the ride yet.  

Luckily we were within the first 20 people there, because the line quickly grew behind us.

About 5 minutes later they let us in. Sweet.

When we got to the recording studio part of the queue, it all fell apart.  The CM there started freaking out, asking us why we were there.  She got on the phone and started yelling at someone about why they were already letting us in the ride, as they weren’t ready.

doh.

So she clumsily tried to back us out of the room so she could close the doors.  She was not a people manager.  

Finally we got through and up to the ride.

It was 8:58 and we were nearly on.  Not too bad of a start.

Unfortunately, we were so early that they hadn’t gotten the ride cameras working yet.  So instead of seeing me sticking my tongue out at my wife while she was holding on for dear life, we saw an empty track.  

fail.

Did you know there is a victory garden at DHS?

There is.  

They even have a scary scarecrow straight out of WWII.

It’s actually kind of creepy if you ask me.

Did you know they have little war vignettes at the condiment station?

They do.

We were on our way to the animation academy, and I saw the topiary lady outside the Brown Derby.

See how she has plastic underneath the plant to catch the clippings?  

Genius.  

That’s it for now.  Next we’ll make our first animation drawings, begin to uncover some new (to us) mysteries, and of course try some new food!  

Bacon, mushrooms, magic cookie bars...doughnuts...

 

Maybe greatest TR segment ever...

 

Puh POW

It was a pretty good culinary night.

I see what you're going with the puh pow.  I expect a new onomatopoeia for every comment you make during this TR.

Those doughnuts look amazing! I don't eat mushrooms, so I'll pass on the soup.

 

I'm excited for you guys that you got some alone time, but I'm a little upset that we have to wait for cute redhead pics.

I don't like mushrooms either, but it made me a believer.  

And don't worry about the reds.  There will be plenty of pics!  Just have to build the anticipation.

Wow.  Magic mushroom soup AFTER doughnuts.  Only you could pull that off. 

 

And your earlier comment about food choices has me wondering....did you go to the tea party and bring a GAG with you?

I know, right!

GAG at HTT is actually a fantastic idea, but no, not this time.  It does relate to a GAG in a way though.  

Well done!

 

I have been wanting to try those Drunken' Donuts ever since I first heard of them.  Haven't quite made it yet, although I've gotten close a couple of times.

 

I hate to break it to you, but that mushroom soup you made is definitely pink.  I think you used the wrong kind of mushrooms, and you just didn't realize it at the time.

 

Magic cookie bars for breakfast?

 

Genius.

 

TCD

 

oops,almost forgot . . .

 

BAM!

Yeah, I think my wife got those mushrooms from some sketchy guy behind the grocery store...

Magic cookie bars fit in every food group and every meal of the day.

I'm boycotting this TR until Mr anonymous wiseguy, CKCK aka CKCK, graces us with a first name.

I would think that his anonymous strategy is down the drain as he's posted pics of himself.

BTW, if you hate sand/coquina so much, why did you get a site with so much of it?

As much as I would love you to boycot this TR, it wouldn't help anything since you won't read it anyway.

And I got a site with lots of sand as a challenge.  If I declare war on sand, how can I run away from it?

Chris

Kim

Caroline

Kinley

 

BAM!

 

TCD

TCD = 1

Crotchety Bus Pilot = 0

We were in site 922. It had the Pirate & UK flags along with a flock of purple mingos.  And our official sign. :)

 

Drunkin Donuts was on our list but we didn't make it over there this time other than for brunch.  The boys had breakfast and I waited the few minutes until the turned over to lunch for a salad.  I love that salad.  Not sure why, but I dream about that salad.

 

Nice call on going with the best of the best and not paying out the nose for what you don't want.

Totally missed you.  Guess we didn't go through the 900 loop enough.  

What salad is so good?  Must have bacon in it.

Magic Cookie Bars for dessert AND breakfast! Double BAM!  

That's what I'm talking about.

I think it was Ben Frankin who once said, "Magic Cookie Bars are proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy". 

I had forgotten that quote.  Totally adding that to my favorite quotes list. 

I could live with pink bourbon .....  I'm just sayin...    Magic cookie bars for breakfast ?   My daughter would worship me and the wife would murder me.    Who are we kidding... great idea and it will happen in July...    Nice photos from the I phone...BAM !

Some advice: I ended up putting the leftover cookie bars in the fridge because I was afraid they would be soggy the next morning.  It worked well, and I even had enough left for TWO breakfasts.

Bam.

Woo hoo!  

We just recently went to our first animation class and loved it.  We will definitely be making a habit out of that.  

Sorry to see this one end.  I started reading your TRs back at the old place, and feel like I know the twins even though I've never met them.  I'm sure there will be many more trips during college and AD (after degrees).  And by the way, I think Rocky needs some Fort action.  I'd like to see some more tetherball pics.  I thought about letting my dogs try that last week, but figured we would end up with a popped ball.

AGU!

I don't think I've ever used that acronym.  

Bam!

We have been to the Lodge several times, but never just chilled in there.  Definitely looks like a great place to get out of the sun/rain.

Oh, and...

woo hoo!

I HATE sand. 

We have so much in common...