Lil Lisa

How is this for reassurance:

As far as climate goes, FL is unique because it is a peninsula. That means that it gets dual sea breezes (from the ocean and gulf) every day. Sea breezes cause the air to rise over land near the shore every day (I won't bore you with why). These sea breezes move inland and collide, triggering thunderstorms where they meet (including the Orlando area). Most long time FL residents who live in the areas where the two air masses collide will probably be able to set their watches by the storms when they occur (about 2:00 to 3:00), even though they may not have known the cause. Since these storms are convective (caused by rising air) they are short lived, hit and miss, and won't cause a washout like frontal systems or tropical storms do. Don't fret. There may be a chance of storms, but it won't ruin your vacation. It will rain and then clear up shortly thereafter. Just take the opportunity to duck inside and grab a snack. It will be done raining by the time you are done eating.

You guys kill me! Hurricane? What hurricane? Check out those pecs!

Seriously? So the forecast is on past data not on current conditions and models? But then I guess the models are built on historical data, so it all about the past..... Well damn, I learned me something today. I thought those weather people were just nuts, now I know it is the historical stuff that is nuts.

The exception is Jim "HunkaHunka" "Your going to die today" Cantore. He is just sexy deadly.

Now Rick, if you can show us some hot baseball guys in tight pants.

Yep, really. Forecasting is as much of an art as it is a science. The models predict changes in. temperature, pressure and dew point (moisture content) at intervals based on really nasty looking mathematical equations (that I needed to learn how to derive from first principles, but that's another story). The models can produce weather maps based on this info, but then it is up to the meteorologist to interpret the data and prepare the forecast. There are some experimental models that attempt to do the forecast, but there still is no substitute for the human element in producing a "reliable" forecast.

And now a word from our sponsor...

Oh yes they do!!

In reality, if the weatherman says 40% chance of rain, 40% of the viewing area will receive some precipitation - if only for 30 seconds - so that makes the weatherman 100% accurate! :rofl2:

The Tampa Bay viewing area spans from Punta Gorda to Brooksville (N-S) and from the Gulf of Mexico to Eastern Polk County. That's approximately 11000 square miles!!

The meteorologist in me has to correct you on that one, Debbie. If there is a 40% chance of rain for a forecast area, that means that historically on days with similar meteorological conditions, 40% of the time it has rained in the past. It has nothing to do with the percent of the area that will get rain.

And now for the sports... Rick?

No, regular jelly donuts.

Are those made with lots of fiber?

Mmm, mmm, I love jelly donuts.

Apple jelly?

Only the fort fiends could turn a trip report into a discussion about cabana boys (grrr grrr meowwwww!) and saltwater enemas (ow owwww!) :rofl2:

And I can't believe that the king of cuisine would ever get tired of eating!

Ich bin ein Berliner.

You are a pastry?

A jelly donut to be exact. Well, they say you are what you eat... :rofl2:

I am thinking I need to pick up the pace of this report.....

Nope! This pace is great! Stretch it out through the weekend. It will give me something to read on my way down to the Fort.

Great report so far. The only thing I can't understand is why I'm so hungry...

Nice try.

I see it too. Use your imagination, Lou...

http://img2.etsystat...N.152596170.jpg They are bracelet fronts. I have no idea how to post a picture here (please forgive me) but if you follow the link you can see.

Do I win a toaster?

Laura

PS. Fishing lure... lol!

That is indeed what they are. I had one as a kid. Not sure where it is now. The one hole is elongated because that side has a hook on it that fits through and then tension pushes it out to keep it together until you squeeze to release it. The other side should be "permanently" attached. I forgot about that bracelet. I may have to dig through some of my kid stuff at my Dad's house. Who knows what else I might find.

What's up with everyone going on cruises? If you guys keep this up we'll have to change the name to "Cruise Fiends". Loving the report though. I always love me some DaveInTN trip report!

Hold on Ms Chopped Liver. It sounded like a question to me. And no, there are no buses specifically for character breakfasts, only park buses that may or may not drop you off at the resort where the breakfast is.

Generally they'll take you to a park where unless the breakffast is at a park, you'lll transfer to the resort either on another bus, boat, or monorail.

I guess you need to have the luxury of visiting more than once a year to play this game if that level of detail is required in an answer. And answers in the form of a question work for jeopardy...

My answer may have been short on details, but I got it right too. I feel like chopped liver.

Aren't there special busses for character breakfasts that start really early?

I always knew you were a 'dirty girl' ... You just can't hide stuff like that. Even when you take a bath. That's why we love you.

So glad to hear that Nate found a new gal. That can definitely be tough, especially after that long. I never doubted that he would find someone though. And she's a cutie!!

So let's go back to the original question. I want to learn the answer.

According to the published info, buses start running one hour before park opening.

You're staying at a WDW resort and you have an ADR at the Crystal Palace for 7:30am. You're too cheap to take a cab and you don't have a car. How do you get there on time if the buses don't start running until 8am?

If Todd starts acting up again, we'll find a way to distract him on another thread.

Whadda ya say, Lou?

Those dog hangovers are just killers, aren't they? :rofl2:

...For example, if a bus leaves Hollywood Studios en route to the GF, it stops at the Contemporary and Polynesian before it gets to the GF, right? The guests at GF want to know when the bus will get there. How is the system going to be able to say that accurately ahead of time, when the bus has to make two stops, which could vary in length, before it finally heads to the GF?

TCD

Why do I suddenly feel like I'm back in high school algebra?

You're going to have a super time!! We rent a golf cart because the place is huge, because Lou won't let us ride the busses and also because it is fun to go looping in your spare time. There is cart parking at both the marina and the outpost. We've never brought bikes, but I know that some people do.

Hope that helps!

in the parks. It's how they update the wait times on the boards at the rides.

Did not know that, but I don't wait in lines that are over 30 minutes or more.

You need to spend more time in the parks...

11:41, hmm, I was at All-Stars then.

In my defense, I couldn't help myself. You know what kind of people stay there.

Were you picking your nose or scratching your butt? (and you thought you were past the potty humor)

No offense taken here. And I respect Bobs right to his opinion. That's all I threw out was an opinion.

No sweat.

Oh great... Now we're back to BO again...

I hope so too.

I am going to try very hard to make that happen.

TCD

I was blinded by Lou's post about my singing and missed this. It will be awesome to finally meet you. Hopefully the stars will align!