Canadian Buffoon's Exhausted Vacation - Update 09/01 - New TR link!

[ariane37]

I'm not a big Star Wars fan either.

I cannot believe you aren't a fan after that post! I am also 100% not a fan and other than the original (like real original) characters I know nothing so I don't even have anything witty to say about your update But...... I think you had a nice morning??

 

[pkondz]

what's crazy is that I actually had a dream/nightmare where I overslept the morning of my run. First time a dream of mine has come true like that.

Whoa... cool! You've got... ESP...
or... what's that word? Psychotic!

if you're following all of the parkeology rules, the record is something like 14.5 hours I think. I've done it in 13.75 hours...but it is all ride dependent on which rides are open. prior to TSL and SW:GE, it was possible to do DHS in less than an hour...now it is about 1 hr 45 mins...and that's with mild jogging and 6 am EEMH.

MK can be done in about 5.5 hours.
Epcot on Tuesday evenings can be done in about 2 to 2.5 hours
DAK is about 3 hours. So you're looking at about 12 hours in the parks an at absolute minimum (as in you have FPs for every ride and don't experience any downed rides), plus time for park hopping. Some people are really good at park hopping. Not sure exactly how they do it, aside from running and using preferred parking -- but I've seen reports where people are clocking out of MK and clocking into DAK in like 20 minutes. That's crazy fast. Even illegally parking at contemporary for MK, that is still pretty fast jogging and driving.

I had no idea this was even a thing!

And 20 minutes from MK to DAK?????
They'd pretty much have to park at CR. I can't see any other way.
And even with that! Wow!

I'd be more worried about life and limb compared to a few hundred bucks.

I'm actually less worried about that.

They had no way of knowing you didn't make that flight until the very end. They don't hold bags to wait for people to get on the plane though. Think about it, you always see the bags get loaded onto the plane as you're sitting there in the terminal waiting to board. My guess is that your bag didn't make the original flight b/c it was too delayed in customs to make that flight. After that, it got rerouted to be on whatever flights you were going to be on.

I suppose they could have put it on the next flight to MCO -- but it's probably policy that it go with the passenger whenever possible.

That's actually what I was
trying to say.
The bag goes with you.
But if it's easier for them
to put it on an earlier flight,
(i.e. You don't know)
then I can see that.

But you're probably right,
even if I made the flight,
my bag wasn't going to.

As an aside, I have had an instance where my bag showed up to the destination before I got there. I had a long layover one time, and they put my bags on the flight ahead of mine. I had to pick my bags up from the airline baggage people.

Huh.
"Sure. Take my bags, but leave me!"

 

[pkondz]

I cannot believe you aren't a fan after that post!

I'm not a hater, either.
I have seen every film.
(But a lot of people
can say that, who aren't
fans either.)
But... I don't know all
the new characters names.
Or all the other details.
I had to Google for some things.
Other things I just made up
names that sounded Star Wars-like.

I am also 100% not a fan and other than the original (like real original) characters I know nothing

Yeah... I think I know...
maybe 2? 3? characters names
from the new films?
And some of those only because
people have posted character
meets with Kylo-Ren (eg.)
And I'm not sure if that's
spelled right, anyway.

so I don't even have anything witty to say about your update

That's perfectly fine.
Hope you just looked at
the pictures and went:
"Pretty!"

But...... I think you had a nice morning??

Early... but yes.

 

[mustinjourney]

Whoa... cool! You've got... ESP...
or... what's that word? Psychotic!


I had no idea this was even a thing!

And 20 minutes from MK to DAK?????
They'd pretty much have to park at CR. I can't see any other way.
And even with that! Wow!

I'm actually less worried about that.

That's actually what I was
trying to say.
The bag goes with you.
But if it's easier for them
to put it on an earlier flight,
(i.e. You don't know)
then I can see that.

But you're probably right,
even if I made the flight,
my bag wasn't going to.

Huh.
"Sure. Take my bags, but leave me!"

someone working nights again?

 

[pkondz]

someone working nights again?

Erm... no?
Did I say something stupid?

 

[mustinjourney]

Erm... no?
Did I say something stupid?

No. Just that you were responding late at night. I thought you caught up with comments at work.

 

[pkondz]

No. Just that you were responding late at night. I thought you caught up with comments at work.

Ahhhh...
Okay. (phew!)
I do catch up at work...
but at home too on occasion.
Just depends on what's going on.

 

[LeiaIsAPrincess2]

I'm here! But 8 pages behind! I leave to WDW for a few days and look what happens

Listen, lady. If I could take something
out, I wouldn't be bringing it to Florida.

Right? I don't haul around the extra weight for fun

Vanilla Bean Frappuccino
and a molasses cookie.
I hardly ever go to Starbucks,
mostly owing to the fact
that I don't drink coffee.
But there's no coffee in this
drink and those cookies?

The breakfast of champions!

This dude had brought
an entire pizza onboard!

Nice! Like a personal pizza or a 16" pizza?

I thanked him, pulled the suitcase
into the room and collapsed
back into bed, bag untouched.

Yay!

I was too far back and too
distracted to really enjoy the
ride... If one can say they
"enjoyed" a smuggler's run.

Agreed. Although, you could just let the ship burn down around you as you watch the view!

 

[pkondz]

I'm here! But 8 pages behind! I leave to WDW for a few days and look what happens

I contemplated waiting
until you got back.
But I accidentally hit "post"
(twice), and the rest just happened.

But...
to the TR!

Right? I don't haul around the extra weight for fun

"Oh! Look! Some pretty rocks!
Let's bring 'em to Florida!"

The breakfast of champions!

Ya got that right!

Nice! Like a personal pizza or a 16" pizza?

16"!

Yay!

Glad the bag was there,
but I might've been too
sleepy to celebrate too much.

Agreed. Although, you could just let the ship burn down around you as you watch the view!

Okay... look.
If I go solo again
(or even not solo)
and get stuck as an
engineer again, I'm going
to do exactly that.

"Why did the ship explode?"
"Because I wanted to have
fun too!"

 

[disneyAndi14]

Carol-line

This way. When I was young, (long ago, lol) my dad would always tell me to correct people because they always called my Carolyn and that was not right, haha! An old fashioned southern name in northern Minnesota was hard for people to get I guess! Now a days Caroline is a more popular name for young girls. I was always the only Caroline in school.

Please play!
Even if you don't spot
everything (or anything!)
that is frequently not the
deciding factor.

Okay I am going to play, just so you know @Terra Nova guy had an informal play along at the end of his posts last TR and I did very well, so watch out, haha! Of course he didn’t have hidden images only questions!

 

[Tracy161]

How, oh how, did I manage to miss the beginning of another TR!?

Due to popular demand,
(one person mentioned it)

(there's no way that's a dolphin!)

Agreed

(Just some personal stressful
things that were going on
at the time were keeping me up.)

I'm so sorry to hear that. I hope that these things have been solved.

I had all kinds of stuff in there,
and assumed it would get searched.

I wasn't disappointed.

but also because that did make me laugh

I deserve a treat, dang it!

You sure did! Too bad you didn't know what else was in store for you that day. You'd have purchased a whole collection of treats.

It's five o'clock somewhere
in the Galaxy, right?

Speaking of the Galaxy, let me commend you on perhaps one of the best pieces of writing I have laid eyes on in a long time. Job well done, my friend. That GE update was flawless.

I am SO sorry for the travel day you had, though.

 

[juniorbugman]

Tell me if it's unreasonable
of them to confiscate selfie-sticks.
Or do you agree with the First
Order upholding this rule?

I totally agree with them confiscating selfie-sticks. People have no courtesy when using them.

Let that be a warning to the unwary,
or those afflicted with claustrophobia.
This march is definitely not for you.

Yup when I ever get back there, this walk will not be something that I will be doing. Since I have no idea whenever I will return to Disney I am thinking that the hype will be over and I can go anytime I want.

I entered the familiar confines of the Millennium Falcon and stopped in my tracks. The all-too-familiar holo-chess board was being manned by
all-too-familiar faces. That Hondo will stop at nothing to achieve his aims!

Great picture. I did read it took you a couple of visits to get it but what a smart idea. You all look so intense and focused on the game. Let the best man win.

I sidled up to a droid-kiosk and ordered a libation.

Were you able to bring it home on the plane with you as I think it was about that time when airlines were banning it?

1. What time do I get up the next day?
Closest to the right answer wins bonus points. Points awarded in descending order.
Answer: 4:15am
People! Not even close!
I told you I gave you a major clue. Did the title of the TR not tell you anything???

Well I got distracted with the - luggage stayed there and assumed that you didn't touch it for a while. Oh well.
I almost forgot to reply as I usually just read along but don't comment much.
Can't wait for the rest of your journey.

 

[MeghanEmily]

Tell me if it's unreasonable
of them to confiscate selfie-sticks.
Or do you agree with the First
Order upholding this rule?

I'd say it's completely unreasonable if I didn't believe that people sometimes have a tendency toward stupidity. I think the most reasonable thing would be to allow selfie sticks, with rules about then not being allowed to be used on rides for safety reasons and because it could trigger a sensor and stop things, etc. But I know that if that were the case, people would go "oh no, of course I won't do that!" then bring them in to the parks, sneak them out on a ride all stealth-like, break the rules, and cause issues. So because I suspect this would happen commonly, I understand why they're confiscated. That, and I think it would be really annoying and unsafe if people were pulling them out in thick crowds to take selfies and clotheslining other guests. ...though it could also be funny.

The path we were following
narrowed and I felt myself
pushed up against the person
in front of me, while the entity
behind me was similarly pressed
up against me from the rear.
It was not a pleasant feeling and
I wondered what might happen
should someone stumble and fall.
I could see no way that they wouldn't
be trampled in the mad rush.

Oof, that sounds uncomfortable at best, and potentially dangerous at worst! It's a wonder to me that we don't hear about more injuries from these crazy rope drop scenarios. It reminds me of Black Friday sales and people who get injured or die by being trampled. So senseless. Glad you made it out safely!

I knew better than to ask
what they were there for.
Either Hondo would tell me...
Or he wouldn't.
People who ask too many
questions tend to find themselves
kicked out of airlocks without
spacesuits.

Smart.

Ha! Love this!

Though I hate to admit that when I first glanced at it, I had a moment where I thought, "wow, that other guy beside him really looks like Pkondz...oh, and so does the other guy, too!...oh...wait..."

But the next time I fly this
bird, I want to be either a
gunner or a pilot.

Nathan's done all the roles now and he'd agree with you. Those were more fun for him. I think he especially liked gunner. And I think he said pilot is really fun depending on where you sit, or something like that.

Lovely!

 

[franandaj]

My holo-clock woke me at 4:15am,
or prior to sunrise at this latitude
on Batuu.

You. Are. Nuts.

The stormtroopers on patrol
at the checkpoint hardly gave
my blasters a glance.

Well at least it wasn't plastic cutlery, then you would have been in for a treat.

Tell me if it's unreasonable
of them to confiscate selfie-sticks.
Or do you agree with the First
Order upholding this rule?

It is perfectly valid for them to confiscate those things. Now if people weren't blatantly stupid, they would be OK, but they don't know better than to try and take selfies on roller coasters and other such contraptions. Cell phones go flying, the sticks hit other passengers in the cars or worse yet it gets lodged in the tracks causing a car to malfunction. There's a whole lot of stupidity out there and they need to keep a lid on it.

Did you see the video about the guy who jumped out of BTMRR because he dropped his cell phone?

The path we were following
narrowed and I felt myself
pushed up against the person
in front of me, while the entity
behind me was similarly pressed
up against me from the rear.
It was not a pleasant feeling and
I wondered what might happen
should someone stumble and fall.
I could see no way that they wouldn't
be trampled in the mad rush.

I was caught in a similar situation on NYE in Lake Tahoe a long time ago and another lifetime away, my feet were swept up off the pavement. I purposely avoid crowds like that now.

I doubled back over my
tracks and this offered me
a dorsal view of the ship.

Nice shot! I've never seen a park at sunrise!

The all-too-familiar holo-chess
board was being manned by
all-too-familiar faces.

Whoa! Now that's some expert photoshopping! Did you actually ride it three times and get three shots of yourself in different seats or did you drop in three different random pkondz photos? Inquiring minds want to know!

But the next time I fly this
bird, I want to be either a
gunner or a pilot.
I was too far back and too
distracted to really enjoy the
ride... If one can say they
"enjoyed" a smuggler's run.

Try pilot. If you're crazy enough to get up at 4AM when you haven't slept in however many days, you'd probably be crazy enough to actually enjoy the pilot seat!

Even for this time of the morning,
the Cantina was bustling with
off-world tourists, bounty hunters
and various other riff-raff.
It's five o'clock somewhere
in the Galaxy, right?

Were people actually drinking alcohol in there at that hour? It's barely legal to serve alcohol at that hour in California!

The flora here on Batuu always
catches me off guard.
It's amazingly Earth-like, with
only subtle differences that
aren't readily observable
under these suns' light.

You know that was one of the neat comparisons I was making when I was there. The plants that they have in Batuu West and Batuu East are similar looking, but if you know anything about plants, you'll realize that in Batuu East they specifically chose exoticish looking plants that can take a lot of water, while on Batuu West they have chosen very deserty (not desserty) plants. It was kind of cool to compare the two.

It sure smelled good.
I had just decided to grab
a bite of roasted ronto
when a passing patrol spotted me.
Curse the luck!

I wonder what the breakfast rontos are like?

People! Not even close!
I told you I gave you a major
clue. Did the title of the TR
not tell you anything???

Well what that sentence tells me is that if I want to do better at these contests I need to pick the MOST INSANE answers and go with that.

franandaj: 11
SnowWhiteOz: 10
tundra1: 10

See there I am rockin' the bottom tier!

 

[vamassey1]

My holo-clock woke me at 4:15am,
or prior to sunrise at this latitude
on Batuu.

That's really early! But I would do it too if it meant getting in early.

Always nice when you don't have
to wait. They advertise a shuttle
every 20 minutes, but zero is better.

Once again your bus pass is rocking it.

When I assured them that
it was a tripod,
(<wave> "This is not the
selfie-stick you're looking for.")
they let me through.

Cute! Glad it wasn't taken.

A line of stormtroopers arrived
and took up posts on the other
side of the force-line.
Finally, at the stroke of 6am, as the
supergiant rose in the West, the CMs
dropped the force-line and we were
forced to march behind the Storm-
troopers as we made our way to
Black Spire.

Nicely themed crowd control.

It was not a pleasant feeling and
I wondered what might happen
should someone stumble and fall.

Kinda scary.

I love this photo!

Very cool! I really wondered how you do this but read further down for your explanation.

It sure smelled good.
I had just decided to grab
a bite of roasted ronto
when a passing patrol spotted me.
Curse the luck!

Now I'm hungry too.

vamassey1: 35

Not bad. I'll most likely tank on the next one.

I actually went back in the
queue and told the CM
that I wasn't going to ride.
That gave me plenty of time
to stage the shot.
I set up my camera on
my tripod and waited while
others took their photos.
When there was a window
of opportunity, I put my
camera on a timer (only
three seconds! So I really
had to hurry!), pushed
the shutter button and
quickly sat and posed.
Repeat two more times.
Then combined the resulting
photos in photoshop.

Dedication.

 

[natebenma]

I am just returning from a hiatus from the trip report boards. I saw that I am only 6 pages/2 chapters behind on this report instead of the usual 1,352 pages of past reports.

So I'm in!

Then it was time for the
always popular
"Will the cab come on time
or will I miss my flight" game.

I play this game every single time!

Hate it!




I guess the titles of the books available for purchase was a foreshadow of your travel day.

But they did stop me to inspect
my tripod droid.
When I assured them that
it was a tripod,
(<wave> "This is not the
selfie-stick you're looking for.")

Hilarious!!!

I was caught with a selfie stick I had forgotten was in my camera bag on one trip, early morning at Animal Kingdom. The person checking my bag told me to bring it to guest services for the duration of my time at the theme park. I dutifully headed in that direction and did a hard nope!

I managed to repack it in an undetectable manner for my visit to EPCOT later that day, and then removed it from my park bag for the rest of the trip.

This is a spectacular shot!

Awesome, clever chapter of your visit to Batuu!

 

[pkondz]

This way. When I was young, (long ago, lol) my dad would always tell me to correct people because they always called my Carolyn and that was not right, haha!

Okay!
And of course you should
correct people!
Heck, it's why I asked!

An old fashioned southern name in northern Minnesota was hard for people to get I guess!

Huh. Had no idea it was an
"old fashioned southern name".
Guess I'm just used to hearing it
from Neil Diamond.

Soooo... how many times have
you had that song sung to you??

Now a days Caroline is a more popular name for young girls. I was always the only Caroline in school.

More popular than Carolyn?

Okay I am going to play, just so you know @Terra Nova guy had an informal play along at the end of his posts last TR and I did very well, so watch out, haha!

Good!
And... I'm more sneaky.

Of course he didn’t have hidden images only questions!

 

[pkondz]

How, oh how, did I manage to miss the beginning of another TR!?

I don't know!!
But glad to see you here now!

to the TR, Tracy!

Agreed

Right?????

I'm so sorry to hear that. I hope that these things have been solved.

Yes they have.

but also because that did make me laugh

You sure did! Too bad you didn't know what else was in store for you that day. You'd have purchased a whole collection of treats.

"pkondz arrives in Disney looking
even more like a hippo than he
usually does."

Speaking of the Galaxy, let me commend you on perhaps one of the best pieces of writing I have laid eyes on in a long time. Job well done, my friend. That GE update was flawless.

Awwww... thanks, Tracy!!

I am SO sorry for the travel day you had, though.

Things got much better.

 

[pkondz]

I totally agree with them confiscating selfie-sticks. People have no courtesy when using them.

Totally agree.
I think I wrote about it, but...
Took a DD and her friend to
Niagara Falls and the person
in front of us in the tunnel had one.
We waited and waited and waited...
(not wanting to get in their photo)
It was ridiculous.

Yup when I ever get back there, this walk will not be something that I will be doing. Since I have no idea whenever I will return to Disney I am thinking that the hype will be over and I can go anytime I want.

It was not comfortable at all!
I really think Disney needs to
re-think that a bit.
It was dangerous.
(At least I think so.)

Great picture. I did read it took you a couple of visits to get it but what a smart idea. You all look so intense and focused on the game. Let the best man win.

Thanks!
Yes, I went back a second
time to take that photo.
There wouldn't have been
enough time, otherwise.
See above comment re:
ridiculous selfie-stick.
I was always very conscious
of others wanting to take
photos at the table so it took
several minutes while I waited.
They had less time (since they
were riding) than I did.

The best man won... and lost.

Were you able to bring it home on the plane with you as I think it was about that time when airlines were banning it?

I was!
I was thinking I might try
to smuggle it home in two pieces
(cap and base), buried in my suitcase,
but they lifted the ban before that.
It's sitting on a table beside my
poker chips and a couple other
trip mementos.

Well I got distracted with the - luggage stayed there and assumed that you didn't touch it for a while. Oh well.

Ah.

I almost forgot to reply as I usually just read along but don't comment much.
Can't wait for the rest of your journey.

Glad you did, and...
More coming soon!

 

[pkondz]

I'd say it's completely unreasonable if I didn't believe that people sometimes have a tendency toward stupidity.

I think the most reasonable thing would be to allow selfie sticks, with rules about then not being allowed to be used on rides for safety reasons and because it could trigger a sensor and stop things, etc. But I know that if that were the case, people would go "oh no, of course I won't do that!" then bring them in to the parks, sneak them out on a ride all stealth-like, break the rules, and cause issues.

Good point.
But I must admit that what
would bug me more (and has)
is when people stop and take
forever for a selfie... and no one
can get by.
Or worse... holding the stupid
thing up for fireworks.
I don't want to see fireworks
through a forest of selfie-sticks.

So because I suspect this would happen commonly, I understand why they're confiscated. That, and I think it would be really annoying and unsafe if people were pulling them out in thick crowds to take selfies and clotheslining other guests. ...though it could also be funny.

Every few minutes... you hear
"Erk!" as a new victim is claimed.

Oof, that sounds uncomfortable at best, and potentially dangerous at worst! It's a wonder to me that we don't hear about more injuries from these crazy rope drop scenarios. It reminds me of Black Friday sales and people who get injured or die by being trampled. So senseless. Glad you made it out safely!

I'm thinking that the likelihood
of someone getting hurt is higher
on that "march" than any other rope
drop run I've ever made.

Smart.

This ain't my first space rodeo.

Ha! Love this!

Thanks!

Though I hate to admit that when I first glanced at it, I had a moment where I thought, "wow, that other guy beside him really looks like Pkondz...oh, and so does the other guy, too!...oh...wait..."

Good!
Even my own DD was puzzled.
She at first wondered how I
changed each time... then realized
it was just the way I wore my hat.

Nathan's done all the roles now and he'd agree with you. Those were more fun for him. I think he especially liked gunner. And I think he said pilot is really fun depending on where you sit, or something like that.

Good to know.
I hope to try at least one other
position at some point.

Lovely!

That flower was off to the side
up against a building and no one
even noticed it.