Big Apple, Boardwalk, and Beach - Bullies and Wrap-up (The End!) (pg 44)

[Captain_Oblivious]

But it was also our third park-day in a row, and we were starting to feel it. But this was Disney baby, so you know what you do – you power through it!

Dang straight!

Coffee obtained and brain clearing, I walked a little ways towards the entrance to Epcot to get a picture of the Boardwalk. It was very apparent that the Disney cast members had shined Crescent Lake to a mirror finish overnight.

Those cast members did excellent work. Also, nice shots!

I had to get a daylight picture of the clown slide, to try to determine if it was only nighttime that made it look so creepy.

Nope, doesn’t matter. Day or night, still creepy. Although I think that at nighttime it’s really in its element.

Yep. Creepy no matter what. Now I'll have nightmares again.

But unfortunately, we didn’t have to walk as far as I’d hoped, to reach the end of the line for Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. Yikes!

So they were going that way after all!

But the good news was that they hadn’t opened the ride yet, so no one was in the actual queue area. This was the whole line and it moved fairly quickly.

Good ol' line stacking.

All that’s missing is the smell of urine, and I’m okay with that.

While we were on the ride, I could hear Marlene going, “Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow.”. I found out after we got off that it was due to a hand cramp. I don’t even know what to say about that.

Um...ok, then.

We got in line and had the funniest guy in line behind us. It was his first time on the ride and he was really nervous and was trying to get himself psyched up for the ride. He was kind of acting like a football player about to come bursting out of the locker room for a big game. He’d jump up and down and yell, “Gotta man up!” “Whoo!”. Then he got on his phone and it sounded like he was doing a timeshare sales pitch to somebody. Eventually, he broke of the sales pitch saying, “Okay, I gotta go. I’m about to do this ride.” <click> “GOTTA MAN UP!!”

Can you believe anyone would not want to go on that ride?

They really need to have a talk with the cleaning staff here.

They probably live with teenagers. Can't get 'em to do any chores.

My only regret is that it hadn’t occurred to us to say that we were in a group with the guy behind us so that we could’ve ridden with him. I’m sure that was a fun ride!

That would have been awesome!

 

[Steppesister]

At least you an blame on it "saving lives". I'm working hard to just to save my rear.

Hey, just as legit. I mean you can save others, or you save your own. Either works for me.

Agreed! Looking forward to the upcoming parts of your TR where it becomes a "theme".

OY! I can't even find time to pour a drink of water anymore. Insanity ensues.

Still waiting for that employment offer from Disney, so they can take advantage of all of these great ideas I have.

Have you recently filled out an application?

You should take a trip there so you can drop one off if you haven't!

 

[Steppesister]

LOVE your rides at DHS! Marlene's face cracked me up! I'm very familiar with the 'head cramp' on that ride. sometimes it just... hurts.

That guy was quite the cut up at ToT. I'm sure he did fine, but yeah, I'd be curious if he held his hands up for onto the bars for dear life. LOL!

And yes, of course you took pix of the dusty, cobwebby library and desk- it simply must be done. Yep, yep, yep!

 

[glennbo123]

I was raised in the south so my manners are good not matter what. I always greet the drivers and thank them for their service no matter what. A little kindness goes a long way.

For sure.

Hard choice. I think you have a good plan. You can't skip out on the Hawaii trip again. James is smart to wait for Star Wars land. My oldest Brent doesn't have the Disney bug like we do but he said he would go when we go after Star Wars land opens.

Judy thinks it's strange that we (might) be going for a big celebratory trip for our 29th anniversary, but she'll take it.

Wow Good Memory!

I remember the important stuff.

It's Dennis' favorite ride and a must do for him.

I'm with Dennis.

No jerkiness at all! Smoothest ride I have ever done. I have equilibrium issues. I have since I was a young kid. I was really worried about this. I can do Soarin' but can't take Star Tours and the ride kept being described as a cross between the two. I even have some trouble flying. I started taking Mucinex D 2 days before we left and took one every day to keep my head completely clear. I have never done Mission Space green or orange. Just to test myself I did green and did okay. I wouldn't rush to ride it again but I didn't toss my cookies either. We did Pandora on our last day, first ride of the day. I LOVED IT! No issues whatsoever. I don't think I could do it back to back but I would do it again that day. It's so pretty and so much to see. The wind in your face really helped me. I give it 2 .

That's great to hear. Thanks for your review. Sounds like Judy'll be able to ride it, so that's good.

Wise move. If you ever make it back down there let me know. Great place for a Dis meet.

Will do. I actually thought of you when I was there, but it was only for one evening and I was with a couple of people from work. We were in Mobile but went to New Orleans to catch a flight out the next morning.

Dang straight!

It's what ya do. (As much as I hate those commercials.)

Those cast members did excellent work. Also, nice shots!

Oh, I've got it -- since it was so early in the morning, it was a "no wake zone"...get it?!!

Yep. Creepy no matter what. Now I'll have nightmares again.

So they were going that way after all!

I could've sworn that a lot of people went towards Pixar Place, but now it looked like they all ended up here!

Good ol' line stacking.

Yeah, those switchbacks hold a lot of people!

Um...ok, then.

Yeah, I don't know what to make of it either.

Can you believe anyone would not want to go on that ride?

No, I can't! Even this guy was all right afterwards. And my first-timer son rode it a couple more times later in the trip. I don't know of anyone who would still be wary of it after having giving it a go.

They probably live with teenagers. Can't get 'em to do any chores.

Yeah, but there would be a lot more clutter if that were the case.

That would have been awesome!

I totally blew it. <headsmack>

Hey, just as legit. I mean you can save others, or you save your own. Either works for me.

Cool, just trying to save mine for the moment!

OY! I can't even find time to pour a drink of water anymore. Insanity ensues.

Who needs water?

Have you recently filled out an application?

No, I thought I'd be discovered here.

You should take a trip there so you can drop one off if you haven't!

I know. I think we're leaning toward holding off until Star Wars land though.

LOVE your rides at DHS! Marlene's face cracked me up! I'm very familiar with the 'head cramp' on that ride. sometimes it just... hurts.

Great, thanks. She always says she likes the rides, but with the ride pictures I'm not so sure.

That guy was quite the cut up at ToT. I'm sure he did fine, but yeah, I'd be curious if he held his hands up for onto the bars for dear life. LOL!

I wish I could've seen him, it would've been better than the ride.

And yes, of course you took pix of the dusty, cobwebby library and desk- it simply must be done. Yep, yep, yep!

I probably have several pictures of that cobwebby desk, from over the years.

 

[glennbo123]

Sci Fi Dine In


We had a fairly early lunch reservation coming up at Sci-Fi Dine-In at 11:20, so were making our way back toward the center of the park after riding Rock ‘n’ Rollercoaster and Tower of Terror. We went into the Animators Courtyard hoping to catch a Baymax meet-n-greet in the Animation Gallery building. We went in and saw that there was a 45 minute wait, at least, and decided that was just too long, especially with our ADR coming up. Instead, we just looked around in the Animation Gallery.


Lauren’s favorite Disney movie is “Tangled”, so I’m sure she liked this Rapunzel painting. She’ll just have to save her pennies.

I liked this Donald Duck frozen in carbonite statuette. This may be the only way to cool that fiery temper of his. Can you imagine it though? Just as he’s about to be frozen, Daisy says to him, “I love you”. And he responds in his squeaky, hard-to-understand voice, “I know”.

Mickey Mouse as Leonardo da Vinci’s “Vitruvian Man”. I’m sure Leo would approve.

Disney characters as the Haunted Mansion stretching-room characters.

Then, after killing a little time looking around the Animation Gallery, we went over to Sci-Fi. This was our second visit to this restaurant, as we’ve alternated between it and 50’s Prime Time over the last several trips.

We were seated quickly and I wasted no time in taking pictures of the fun stuff they show on the screen.

Like these advertisements for the Refreshment Center of the old-time drive-in theater.

Anyone here actually ever been to a drive-in? I think my third or fourth time seeing “Star Wars” in 1977 was at a drive-in (which was originally built by my great-uncle). It was the first movie I’d actually seen multiple times. Before that, you never thought of seeing a movie more than once. Once you’d seen it, you’d seen it. Know what I mean?


I took a couple of pictures of the family in our “car”.

Here’s a shot from the back of the restaurant. Isn’t it amazing that everyone owns a convertible in this town?

I posted this picture on Instagram: my family enthralled by “IT Conquered the World!” Way to go, Information Technology!!

I liked this particular clip, with a smoking, newspaper-reading ventriloquist dummy driving a car. Back in the 50’s it took so many items to distract a driver. Now, we can accomplish it with just one. You’ve come a long way baby!

Judy ordered from the gluten-free menu and ordered a turkey wrap and onion rings. When our waitress brought her food out, she said she couldn’t have the onion rings – they weren’t gluten-free. We were confused, since they were on her menu.

The rest of us each got Oreo cookie milkshakes (without realizing what flavor others had picked) and build-your-own burgers. And another order of (actually delivered) onion rings.

I think this is my burger, which I even had topped with onion rings. Now we’re talkin’.

After eating here once before, and through advice on the DIS, we’ve learned to stick with the burgers at this restaurant. If you stray off the burger-path, you do so at your own risk.


The kids with their meals

Good stuff.


The last time we’d eaten here, it seemed like all they were showing on the screen were movie trailers. This time they put in a few cartoons, which I liked a lot better.


The secretary in this cartoon reminded me of Carol Burnett’s “Mrs. Wiggins”. Or, “Mrs. A-Whiggins” as Tim Conway used to say.

I asked our waitress to take our picture and she graciously gave us the “from-all-angles” treatment!

It was a great meal at Sci-Fi! The burgers and onion rings were wonderful, the Oreo shakes were delectable, the entertainment on the screen was enjoyable, and the drive-in theater atmosphere was really amazing. But you know, even with all of this, at a Disney park sometimes the best thing is just being able to take a load off of your feet and to enjoy the air conditioning. All in all, this was a great visit.

Edited to add...when I mentioned that I posted this chapter to Judy, she said, "oh I drank soooo much Vanilla Coke there!" They have free refills of soft drinks (not milkshakes unfortunately) and she really enjoyed sucking down the Vanilla Cokes. Not only were they very refreshing on a hot day, but they also reminded her of her youth, when she'd stop for a Vanilla Coke at the lunch counter at Kresge's (fore-runner to K-Mart), walking home from school. (She's not 100 years old, her town was probably one of the last to have a "Kresge's"!)


Up next: Hats off to Sully

 

[jacksdadcan]

The drive in by my house plays these kinds of advertisements before showings! Mmmm hot buttered popcorn

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

We went in and saw that there was a 45 minute wait, at least, and decided that was just too long, especially with our ADR coming up.

I don't usually even wait that long for the rides.

Can you imagine it though? Just as he’s about to be frozen, Daisy says to him, “I love you”. And he responds in his squeaky, hard-to-understand voice, “I know”.

(sniffle) Beautiful.

Mickey Mouse as Leonardo da Vinci’s “Vitruvian Man”. I’m sure Leo would approve.

We're all happy this version is not as anatomically correct.

Anyone here actually ever been to a drive-in? I think my third or fourth time seeing “Star Wars” in 1977 was at a drive-in (which was originally built by my great-uncle). It was the first movie I’d actually seen multiple times. Before that, you never thought of seeing a movie more than once. Once you’d seen it, you’d seen it. Know what I mean?

It's always a great feeling when you watch a movie, and as soon as it's over you think, "I need to see that again!"

Anyway, yes, I do vaguely remember seeing movies at a drive-in. I think Return of the Jedi was actually the last one I saw.

Here’s a shot from the back of the restaurant. Isn’t it amazing that everyone owns a convertible in this town?

Well, they do know their target market.

I posted this picture on Instagram: my family enthralled by “IT Conquered the World!” Way to go, Information Technology!!

They really have, you know. If the computers go down, none of us gets any work done.

I liked this particular clip, with a smoking, newspaper-reading ventriloquist dummy driving a car. Back in the 50’s it took so many items to distract a driver. Now, we can accomplish it with just one. You’ve come a long way baby!

I think this is my burger, which I even had topped with onion rings. Now we’re talkin’.

You can never have too many onion rings. Unless you're gluten-free, I guess.

The last time we’d eaten here, it seemed like all they were showing on the screen were movie trailers. This time they put in a few cartoons, which I liked a lot better.

Sounds fun.

I asked our waitress to take our picture and she graciously gave us the “from-all-angles” treatment!

Nice looking family there. The one time I ate there, I found it odd sitting and staring at everyone's backs.

(She's not 100 years old, her town was probably one of the last to have a "Kresge's"!)

Thanks for clearing that up! My wife loves "real" vanilla Cokes, too.

 

[tinacaplan]

Hi Glenn! Not sure when I was last here, but I'm happy to see your TRs are still right up there at the top!

 

[afwdwfan]

Anyone here actually ever been to a drive-in?

We have one in our town. Been twice this year. It's about the only way I can see a movie. This way the kids can make noise and be a distraction and it doesn't matter. It's a great deal too. It is always at least 2, sometimes 3 movies for less than it costs to see 1 in an indoor theater. We took DS and his friends to see Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Pirates of the Caribbean and Guardians of the Galaxy a couple of weeks ago.

Here’s a shot from the back of the restaurant. Isn’t it amazing that everyone owns a convertible in this town?

Must be a moderate climate...

I liked this particular clip, with a smoking, newspaper-reading ventriloquist dummy driving a car. Back in the 50’s it took so many items to distract a driver. Now, we can accomplish it with just one. You’ve come a long way baby!

And now we can watch a clip of a smoking, newspaper-reading ventriloquist dummy driving a car while driving a car.

Judy ordered from the gluten-free menu and ordered a turkey wrap and onion rings. When our waitress brought her food out, she said she couldn’t have the onion rings – they weren’t gluten-free. We were confused, since they were on her menu.

This is just odd... did the chef come out to speak with her?

Remember, you're in Disney World. Keep your legs inside the car at all times.

 

[CreightonsMomma]

We want to try Sci-fi. When we were at HS 2 weeks ago Creighton kept asking to go inside and look around. I'm going to have to make a reservation for it for next year. I read they recently changed the menu but I haven't looked at it. I guess I'll go do that now, I'm just coming out of my post Disney blues.

 

[natebenma]

It was very apparent that the Disney cast members had shined Crescent Lake to a mirror finish overnight.

And the Beach Club across the lake.

Wow!!! Those pictures are gorgeous!!!

I had to get a daylight picture of the clown slide, to try to determine if it was only nighttime that made It look so creepy.

Nope, doesn’t matter. Day or night, still creepy. Although I think that at nighttime It’s really in Its element.

Being a Stephen King fan, I would capitalize "it".


Woah! That is quite a scary line at RnR! I have never seen it go back that far into the park. Then again, I have never been there at opening (I'm one of the sheep heading to TSMM)

Admiral Ackbar (gently trapped under the ride harness).

I what you did there!


Congrats on James' first ToT ride! Ben is not wild about it. He skipped it in Disneyland.


Cute pins. Good plan taking pictures instead of buying all the good ones.

 

[natebenma]

The art in the Animation Studio is really whimsical and fun! I love the Haunted Mansion stretching room pictures.


The Sci Fi is my family's favorite when we stick around HS for lunch.

I love the pictures of your family in the car and of the restaurant from the back. Really spectacular!

After eating here once before, and through advice on the DIS, we’ve learned to stick with the burgers at this restaurant. If you stray off the burger-path, you do so at your own risk.

Word!

The shrimp pasta I had at the Sci Fi many years ago was nasty!

We used to go to a drive-in every week in the summer when I stayed at my aunt and uncles house. We would go with my cousins and a bunch of their friends. The only movie I specifically remember seeing is the Spry Who Loved Me.

 

[melk]

Hey, we had a Kresge's too, and like Judy, I'm not 100 years old!

I have about another two weeks before I make ADRs and am wondering what you prefer, Sci-fi or 50's Prime Time? I was leaning towards Sci-fi but the kids seem to want to go to the 50's one (which I didn't love the one time we did it).

 

[jedi jen]

Enjoying your report!! Lovely family!

 

[glennbo123]

The drive in by my house plays these kinds of advertisements before showings! Mmmm hot buttered popcorn

Hi jacksdadcan, and to the trip report! That’s great that you can enjoy a real drive-in. You’d think they would also send some popcorn smells out there toward the cars. No advertisement can sell popcorn as well as its smell, which is irresistible!

 

[glennbo123]

I don't usually even wait that long for the rides.

Well, in the summertime, ride lines can easily get that long so that could be a necessary evil. But character meets, no thanks.

(sniffle) Beautiful.

I know, right?!

We're all happy this version is not as anatomically correct.

Yeah, that’s why they didn’t use Donald Duck for this...no pants.

It's always a great feeling when you watch a movie, and as soon as it's over you think, "I need to see that again!"

Yes, and also very rare!

Anyway, yes, I do vaguely remember seeing movies at a drive-in. I think Return of the Jedi was actually the last one I saw.

Nice. Instead of a big dark blur, you saw a big bright blur.

Well, they do know their target market.

Right. And if you didn’t own a convertible, you were relegated to a picnic table in the back.

They really have, you know. If the computers go down, none of us gets any work done.

True. And if the internet is up, we barely get any work done.

You can never have too many onion rings. Unless you're gluten-free, I guess.

Yes, in which case they’re verboten!

Sounds fun.

A lot of fun. Curiously, no Disney cartoons though.

Nice looking family there. The one time I ate there, I found it odd sitting and staring at everyone's backs.

See, that’s where the cartoons come in. If they’re entertaining enough, your eyes don’t drift down to the backs of the people in front of you.

Thanks for clearing that up! My wife loves "real" vanilla Cokes, too.

Yeah, I thought I’d better make that real clear. Right, these aficionados claim there’s nothing like them.

 

[glennbo123]

Hi Glenn! Not sure when I was last here, but I'm happy to see your TRs are still right up there at the top!

Hi Tina! Good to see you on here, as well as Instagram! You caught me on a good day. I’m taking so long with this report that it frequently drifts a few pages down. I’m okay with that, since time is scarce, but I’m determined to get this thing done, even if it takes (more) years!

We have one in our town. Been twice this year. It's about the only way I can see a movie. This way the kids can make noise and be a distraction and it doesn't matter. It's a great deal too. It is always at least 2, sometimes 3 movies for less than it costs to see 1 in an indoor theater. We took DS and his friends to see Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Pirates of the Caribbean and Guardians of the Galaxy a couple of weeks ago.

That’s awesome! Yeah, I bet that’s great if the kids want to be a little more rambunctious. I haven’t been to a drive-in in decades. I have no idea where the closest one is, but we sometimes pass one in the middle of PA when we are crossing the state to visit family.

Must be a moderate climate...

Must be. It’s always been cool and dark whenever I’ve been there!

And now we can watch a clip of a smoking, newspaper-reading ventriloquist dummy driving a car while driving a car.

Yes, technology is wonderful! That was probably an early attempt by Google at the self-driving car.

This is just odd... did the chef come out to speak with her?

No, we probably should’ve asked for that, but just figured we stay safe with the fries.

Remember, you're in Disney World. Keep your legs inside the car at all times.

Good point Andy! And while we’re at it... “!Por favor manténgase alejado de las puertas”

 

[glennbo123]

We want to try Sci-fi. When we were at HS 2 weeks ago Creighton kept asking to go inside and look around. I'm going to have to make a reservation for it for next year. I read they recently changed the menu but I haven't looked at it. I guess I'll go do that now, I'm just coming out of my post Disney blues.

Hi Jen! Yep, you’re going to have to make a reservation. Creighton should get to go!


After I read your post I looked at the menu on Allears.net and it looks basically the same, unless the change hasn’t caught up there yet. I’d still stick with a burger, which was on the menu I saw.

Wow!!! Those pictures are gorgeous!!!

Glad you liked ‘em!!

Being a Stephen King fan, I would capitalize "it".

I’ll bet he could write a great story about that slide! Could probably turn it out in an afternoon, sitting by the pool. Would probably have to, if it were that pool he was lounging at...couldn’t help but write the creepy backstory to that murderous slide!

Woah! That is quite a scary line at RnR! I have never seen it go back that far into the park. Then again, I have never been there at opening (I'm one of the sheep heading to TSMM)

I was so glad to learn that it didn’t include anyone in the actual queue area. We had a fastpass for TSMM, so headed to RnRC first.

I what you did there!

Thank you! I’m happy writing jokes for myself, but it’s even more fun to share.

Congrats on James' first ToT ride! Ben is not wild about it. He skipped it in Disneyland.

Yeah, James went to Six Flags a couple of times with the church youth group so zipped right past ToT as far as adventurous rides. He’s done some rides there that I don’t ever plan on doing!!

Cute pins. Good plan taking pictures instead of buying all the good ones.

You don’t have to own ‘em to enjoy ‘em, right?!

The art in the Animation Studio is really whimsical and fun! I love the Haunted Mansion stretching room pictures.

It is! A nice place to spend some time as long as you can resist the urge to buy.

The Sci Fi is my family's favorite when we stick around HS for lunch.

Very understandable.

I love the pictures of your family in the car and of the restaurant from the back. Really spectacular!

Thanks!

Word!

Yep!

The shrimp pasta I had at the Sci Fi many years ago was nasty!

You’d think that wouldn’t be too hard to make a nice, palatable version of that. So strange. Why does it have to seem like an episode of Kitchen Nightmares?

We used to go to a drive-in every week in the summer when I stayed at my aunt and uncles house. We would go with my cousins and a bunch of their friends. The only movie I specifically remember seeing is the Spry Who Loved Me.

I’m sure I’ve seen that, I think it was a Roger Moore one. But all I really remember is Sheena Easton singing the theme song.

 

[glennbo123]

Hey, we had a Kresge's too, and like Judy, I'm not 100 years old!

Hi again melk! I think this is your first time posting on this tr, but I remember you on at least the last one. Those lunch counters in stores like that were the best!

I have about another two weeks before I make ADRs and am wondering what you prefer, Sci-fi or 50's Prime Time? I was leaning towards Sci-fi but the kids seem to want to go to the 50's one (which I didn't love the one time we did it).

This is a very tough one, and after thinking on it a long time, I think I have to give the nod to Sci-Fi. But here’s the caveat – if you’re okay with burgers and not having a conversation with your tablemates, then Sci-Fi. If you’d like some other menu choices, I think the pot roast and fried chicken (which can probably feed two) at 50’s Prime Time are really good. I asked Judy your question (without revealing what I’d decided) and she gave the same answer, after deliberating for a fairly long while (and saying “do I have to pick one?”). Plus, she said you can get Vanilla Coke’s at either!!

Enjoying your report!! Lovely family!

Thank you jedi jen! to the trip report. I’m glad you’re enjoying it.

 

[melk]

Hi again melk! I think this is your first time posting on this tr, but I remember you on at least the last one. Those lunch counters in stores like that were the best!

Hi again! I think I've enjoyed reading all your trip reports, I just don't comment too much anymore. But your reference to Kresge's made me smile so it brought me out of lurkdom

Oh, and thank you to you and Judy for the nod to Sci-Fi. That's the one I was leaning to. And I will definitely stick with the burger!!