rdancemom... Pam

The WDW busses are pain fully slow to watch and for the handicap rider, has to be a little humbling to relay on someone else for basic transportation.

 and those waiting crowds eager to board the bus while the ecv is being loaded can make it even worse. DH didn't do a single park in the 5 weeks we were there b/c he didn't want to deal with the ecv on the busses and boats... and that was without even considering the chanting, obnoxious flag people who'd block passage or fall into him once inside the park gates.

I'm so glad we stay at the fort now where he can use the GC to freely enjoy the comforts of the fort instead.

Construction related to the Disney Springs project.

aha! Mystery solved... it looked like a bus parking lot or maybe remedial driver magic training. Are you saying they'd mess with hundreds of families driven by cranky dads who don't want to shop anyway every day in order to do something for a resort that hasn't even started yet? why that's downright magical...

the tow trucks for the busses aren't nearly as cool to watch either but at least I can choose whether to hang around - literally in the case of the monorail - and watch them or go on about my way...

then again, I've never had to sit thru a waterpark detour and be dripped on by grumpy, wet, questionably (and often laughably) clad people after leaving a park with a lever puller at the wheel...

I've been out of the loop - not to mention being told to sit down & shut up by some joker of a bus driver - but why have they blocked off that huge area of parking at dtd and created such a mess?? I suspect it must have something to do with you bus drivers, as the lever pullers couldn't keep their vehicles running long enough to get there even if there were enough track...

Starbu71,

It is amaizing the monorail was running at all durning your stay.

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lol that's exactly what I was thinking. Sadly, after this last trip, I may have to **gulp** join Lou's monorail anonymous meetings.

Seemed like each day we were over there, there was some sort of breakdown. Disney is still selling it as an amenity so they need to work at resolving the maintenance issues.

Good point. Since DS was older I never gave the trip back up a thought. I've never seen a parent do that before. Kudos to you for being a terrific dad!

One thing's for sure, there's no way I'm carting one for the smallest princess either. On the plus side, it is a really light board in comparison to the ones that live in my garage...

Did she whisper to horses?

:naughtywave:hehehe :poke2:   :lmao1: priceless!  :rotfl6:

DS35 did it during the soft opening with two other guys and five CMs when they first started offering it many years ago. Not sure exactly but I know that was probably 15 years ago. They had Ron Jon instructors come in to do the lessons in the beginning but I think I heard something in their arrangement has changed since. In any case, it's always been a must-do since if he's with us - and it's always been a good time. One of the few extra tours that I can honestly say is more than worth the cost. TL is often privately rented for world class surfing competitions to be held there b/c they can ensure every wave is a good wave.

It's a fantastic opportunity for both experienced surfers and for those who've never surfed before. The only complaints I've ever heard are that, for the lessons, you have to use their softer boards and not your own.

The experience will always be very special to me b/c it was the first time I was able to get good pictures of DS surfing. He'd surfed for years before but usually in Outer Banks and the angles were difficult from shore for photos. At TL, we could stand on the wall and shoot to our hearts' content. It was a camera loving mom's dream. DD12's been begging me to do it but our rule has always been 13. Next summer, perhaps she'll be ready.

The instructors worked on skills with him and two others, while they also helped those who'd never been on a board before to be successful before the morning was over. Unless it's changed, you can stay to enjoy the park when it opens afterwards but our kids have always been ready for a break by that point so we never did.

Minor tweaking going on. We need to hit BOG to look around (not to eat) before 2:30. You know us lazy-butt fly-by-the-seat-of-our-pants tourists are a spreadsheet lover's worst nightmare. Not saying we'd follow it but if anyone wants to suggest a plan of attack, taking into account our relaxed slow moving style, we always enjoy suggestions. And to any naysayers - We're not indecisive, we're flexible... well, that's my story at any rate and I'm sticking to it.

Good luck Pam!  Can't wait to hear how you do.

We will take pookie for photo evidence. He's getting tired of hanging out on the bed anyway...

No doubt the WW could make it fun. I figure most fiends could have done it better. After watching the vid Starla and I doubted some of their MK morning times but we figured they seemed miserable enough by the end of the night that it doesn't matter if they fudged a few morning times...

Tomorrow is our target day to give this a shot. We'll begin the day 8am at AK, then grab either DS or Epcot, then the other park and close MK at 11. DH will drop us off at AK but we're thinking we'll use Disney transport for the rest to make up for using our red card. It's our last park day so plans could change if my cousin who's at the Poly this week decides to meet us for the day or if it stops being fun. 

LOL we've been taking about it all week but can't manage to get out before noon. Guess this means we should get out of the hot tub before 1 am tonight...

Starla and I have talked about trying this before we leave. We have a GAC though so it'll only be for fun. No way we could claim bragging rights without waiting in lines... still, it is sort of tempting and would be a piece of cake with the help of a red card

I thought it was very good. I've tried quite a few new-to-me drinks this trip. Not sure though, if I'm getting woozy from the booze, or from the accumulated price of all those $10 drinks in lil bitty cups... :wine:

Heard from a CM friend that it was during breakfast. Nobody was hurt but there was shattered glass that landed on a few tables below causing them to close Chef Mickey's. Would love to be able to shoot pics of the repairs but suspect they may do it in the pre-dawn hours...

One of the big glass panes above Chef Mickey's in the Contemporary shattered and fell into the restaurant during the storm the other morning.

According to what I was told our reservations will be moved to the Ballroom of the Americas in the convention center area. That's where they used to do the old Jolly Holidays dinner show. The room isn't terribly impressive. Hopefully, the characters will make up for it but I think we'll be changing our dinner res... 

Exactly what Memphis said. We're here now and the only option provided by the fort at sites is still wired. With a router from home though it can be done...

Rats. I'm late again. Happy Birthday Dave! Hope it was terrific!!

We're definitely in but not sure what date works best yet. I'm thinking we'll probably stay at Hershey Highmeadow just b/c it's nice & close to both but I'm as no-spreadsheet flexible as you get...

Welcome! A GAG is the carryout chicken meal from Trail's End. Officially it's called "giddy up and go"

I'm going to jump in before FWG and tell you to get a full hookup - preferably 1600 so it's a short walk to the pool. The sites in full are generally more spread out and have less traffic so IMO it's a better location for active children to play & ride bikes/scooters/ect.

... and that sandpad? those premium people look at it all wrong. I prefer to consider it an added bonus... like beachfront property

We were in MK for extra hours until 3 am Wednesday night. We were never asked for resort id. Haven't been asked for anything in quite a few years now. I'd sort of expected it this week, given the holiday crowds, so was surprised.

edited to add - Maybe they just don't card old wimmenz b/c Starla just said she had to show it on every ride...

Random rules!! I love anything that doesn't take a spreadsheet to plan so of course I'm in!

Besides, I'm here in 1600 and haven't seen hardly anybody, so I'll live vicariously thru your pics until I find more of my fiends outside...

It's not so bad from a TT or in the further away sites. The group sites on the top of the hill though have you tenting within spitting distance of the tracks.I swear we felt the ground move when we used to tent there with scouts years ago... lol in a totally non-adult train sort of way, you understand.

Seriously though, it's hard to beat HHM if you're doing the park. The ease of grabbing the chocolate bus and not having to bother with parking - or pay to park - is a big plus for us.

safe travels Rennie! Hi Beth!!  :wave1: