Trip Report THE ONE WITHOUT a BUDDY

(For those of you just joining us, please go read “THE ONE FOR DINNER” before continuing.)

Hello my fellow Magicians!!!
I have been called the rain goddess, the harbinger of doom and plain ✈️ bad luck.

What kind of drama did I get myself into this time? Well as the name implies, this was a solo trip. Not this guy…
Star Wars Salute GIF

I narrowly missed some buddies, met some new buddies and reunited with some old buddies. But I know what you are all thinking….how was my flight(s)?

I have eluded to this story in @Tuvalu ’s TR but here it is. We will call it the EPILOGUE and I will try to be brief.

Two weeks after our Dinner trip, Tone and I were set to fly to PBI. We had an 8:50pm flight on Friday night because our youngest had a lacrosse game at 4:00. This would allow is to go to his game then head to the airport. His game of course got pushed back to 5:30. It was pouring and we had to drive to JFK and park so we saw about 5 minutes of the little guys game.
No traffic. 👍
Found parking immediately👍
One person in line in front of us at TSA precheck👍
Flight on time👍
“Let’s sit and have dinner.”
We see an acquaintance in the restaurant. He is on a major morning news show and is good friends with the people I work for therefore, I will not throw him under the bus. But, as we were heading to the gate we stopped by his table to say hi.
“Is your flight delayed?” He asks.
I felt like I had been sucker punched. I deflated. He had just jinxed me. Five minutes later we get the notification we will be delayed 30 minutes.
Thirty minutes is no biggie. We were waiting on our plane. Our plane arrived but then we were told our crew was on an inbound flight that would not be in until 11:45 pm. For those of you struggling with the math that is almost a three hour delay.
200.gif


I am afraid our flight attendants will time out. They don’t and we push back about midnight. Then go right back to the gate.
big brother pop GIF by Big Brother After Dark


A woman has decided she is too sick to fly. As the woman sitting next to Tone so eloquently put it, “we have had a three effin hour delay. And NOW your sick?”
And we wait for a new manifest.

We land in West Palm about 3:45am. The rental cars are offsite and do not open until 5am. I look for an Uber to take us to our hotel. $58!
We hem
We haw
We decide we will Uber, use our son’s truck for the day and have him drive us to the airport tonight (because our flight back is tonight-Saturday)
I go back on Uber, $98.
“No way!!!”
We find a bench outside and get comfy.
I call the hotel. The charge has already been put through but I convince the young man to reverse the charge.
At 4:30 the shuttle comes for the car rental place. At 5:00am they open.
We have plans to meet Tone’s brother, wife and two of their kids for breakfast at 8:45. We decide we will drive to my son’s house and crash on their couch (like 14feet long!) for a few hours. We pull into his driveway at 6:00am but are afraid to go inside and wake them. Their game is at noon so we want them to sleep. Instead, we sleep in the car in the driveway until 7:30. Then I sneak inside to use the restroom (my son is in the master BR so has his own) while my son snores on.
We then go to BIL’s hotel to use their shower and eat breakfast.
At breakfast for @MickeyCB
C571A1BD-61C3-47AF-944E-A4EB1A2F59A6.jpeg

By 10:30 we are headed to the game.
For @wdisney9000
F70F959A-80ED-4333-A53D-600C9A53E51D.jpeg

Tailgated:
A3D649C1-6A27-4EE9-AD0A-36CB7A9D1811.jpeg

Took a few pix. The first is from high school. They now play together in college so I had to recreate it:
1228A5C4-4F45-4541-8E64-25C02F805B01.jpeg

3B682FB2-E6C8-4103-B013-AED3BF13F5BE.jpeg

Our flight home was delayed, of course. We landed about 1:00am Sunday morning. By 2:00am I was fast asleep.


So how would this flight be???
Stay tuned….
 

donaldtoo

Well-Known Member
Thursday April 7 cont

As for me, it was almost 9:00pm so I thought I would see if Harmonious was worth destroying the World showcase lagoon.

Short version, no. No it is not worth it. The tacos play movies which add nothing. The music is just standard music from movies synched to the tacos. Not very Epcoty. Might go well at MK, or even HWS but here we are in World showcase and Disney really had a chance to highlight the different cultures that surround the lagoon. But instead they made a Disney movie montage. Remember that intern I mention who worked on the Coco scene in Mickey’s Philharmagic? Well he or she has been very busy😉
Oh, and Ursula with the moving arms adds nothing to the show. All the effects could be done with low barges or hardware just under the surface. The best part is the end when fireworks shoot out from the shore all around the lagoon. No Ursula or tacos needed!!!
After that mess I took the bus back to SSR.

Yes, illuminations was far superior, with all original music…Just simply inspiring.
Epcot Forever was even far better than the lagoondoggle that is “Blahmonious”.
It actually also had the shore-launched pyro in it too (no doubt testing for the aforementioned blah).
Harmonious is just another MK-type animation IP music fest, with excessive pyro to try to compensate.
They definitely lowered the bar with that one.

AC9BFC68-6AB2-4B56-AE17-2448109ABEF6.gif
3CB81CC3-C9A8-4EF7-9F0D-CEF8D45BD291.jpeg
 

Darstarr

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
In the Parks
No
I can't even....
Angry Lilo And Stitch GIF

Why is this a thing. Are they too cheap to print out plastic cards for new members? It cost pennies to do that!
Youre Dumb Charles Barkley GIF by Saturday Night Live

What was the official BS they told us? It will be more convenient? And you can store it in your apple wallet.
It is not easier because you can not just show them your card that is in your apple wallet. I guess it would be too easy to screen shot and send to a friend? I had to open my dvc app and pull up my card plus show my license every single time. With Disney wifi it was slowwwwww. But hey, if Disney wants to say that is easier let the line form behind me. They are just cheap and must be getting a kickback from apple.

Btw, one time, I thought I was on the ball and opened the dvc app and had the card on the screen ready to go and the CM told me she had to see me open it. What????
 

Darstarr

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
In the Parks
No
Yes, illuminations was far superior, with all original music…Just simply inspiring.
Epcot Forever was even far better than the lagoondoggle that is “Blahmonious”.
It actually also had the shore-launched pyro in it too (no doubt testing for the aforementioned blah).
Harmonious is just another MK-type animation IP music fest, with excessive pyro to try to compensate.
They definitely lowered the bar with that one.

View attachment 635812View attachment 635813
Bar so low….
How did someone in corporate say “hey, we have a winner here!”
 

Darstarr

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
In the Parks
No
FRIDAY APRIL 8 cont

I had some time before my ToT LL.
Sitting on a bench with a snack
5398108E-52F0-48CD-B6AF-4ED155330DB5.jpeg

or two,
AFED48DA-B206-4822-A437-BDFCCF723375.jpeg

ToT was fun and there was a buddy of mine when I came out.
9E983687-A62A-473C-94CB-6DE3334019FE.jpeg

0BBE5D4D-94A0-45EE-AEBC-D30F8A6FEE35.jpeg

I had never seen him here before. Doesn’t quite fit does he? Goofy and the Tower of Terror. Head scratcher.

I was able to secure another LL.
0AB5F84C-35F1-486D-950F-1891C01DDE46.png

This was for RnR in just a few minutes.
For the record, I had to wait until I exited ToT because ….. yep, no wifi. Even with the wifi turned off I could not make it happen within the Hotel. I have already mentioned this so I will not add another strike, but I would like too!
 

Darstarr

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
In the Parks
No
Friday April 8 cont

I was watching the single rider line closely. I was wondering if LL was faster than single rider. It was.
Speaking of LL, once I tapped into RnR I made another one…
5719F2FE-EC8B-4D02-88FF-D8267E3F0EFC.png

I had some time and one of my favorite spots was open.
6E22EFF3-D7CE-4F06-8801-F23E7C198E25.jpeg

22969809-1239-443B-9E9C-34B6E21652FF.jpeg

This is the cherry blossom but it looks really orange doesn't it?
4F052157-9AA7-4F00-9977-B27D1468706F.jpeg

I strolled, sipped and window shopped…
0F756FF2-49C4-4E5C-8759-0CB88EE1BDD2.jpeg


At the end of Sunset I made a right and skirted past the Brown Derby on my way towards Animation Courtyard and all of a sudden I saw this:
6B734D8B-5FEE-4DFA-9181-879B15B47BD9.jpeg

To help you get your bearings, the dance party building is behind the beige wall directly behind the bar. The arch leading to Little Mermaid is to your left.
Do you all know about this bar? I have never seen it! And there was a line. I walked over because I had to see for myself.
E4564F37-6A84-4130-B067-0F21E98E6267.jpeg

282932A0-A995-47BD-A361-14011DC0947B.jpeg

I commented that this bar is the best kept secret at HWS and the bartender asked me to share the secret with my friends. The men on line both asked me not to share it with too many friends😀

Tito’s
37C37917-5D48-4C87-99A9-6B3BA5750C80.jpeg


I will have to try this place next time.
 

DryerLintFan

Premium Member
Friday April 8 cont

I was watching the single rider line closely. I was wondering if LL was faster than single rider. It was.
Speaking of LL, once I tapped into RnR I made another one…
View attachment 635849
I had some time and one of my favorite spots was open.
View attachment 635850
View attachment 635851
This is the cherry blossom but it looks really orange doesn't it?
View attachment 635853
I strolled, sipped and window shopped…
View attachment 635852

At the end of Sunset I made a right and skirted past the Brown Derby on my way towards Animation Courtyard and all of a sudden I saw this:
View attachment 635854
To help you get your bearings, the dance party building is behind the beige wall directly behind the bar. The arch leading to Little Mermaid is to your left.
Do you all know about this bar? I have never seen it! And there was a line. I walked over because I had to see for myself.
View attachment 635855
View attachment 635856
I commented that this bar is the best kept secret at HWS and the bartender asked me to share the secret with my friends. The men on line both asked me not to share it with too many friends😀

Tito’s
View attachment 635857

I will have to try this place next time.
Let's see,.... Doing the math.... If you start drinking at 10:30 am at the secret bar cart at Disney,.... And you sell half your liver and one of your kidneys to pay for those prices,.... You'll probably make it to at least 3pm before needing an ambulance, right?!

😂😂
 

lindawdw

Well-Known Member
Glad you enjoyed your evening at Epcot with some magician friends! How great that you were able to slip through on Ratatouille!!! I agree about the new Harmonious show which definitely has ruined the whole look of the WS! Your Genie+ experience at DHS is going so well this day!!!
 

Loco_driver

Well-Known Member
It is not easier because you can not just show them your card that is in your apple wallet

Why yes, yes they are!:mad:
So it seems like maybe they’re trying to make it super inconvenient so that maybe some people will just not try to use their discount on smaller purchases where maybe they feel pressured to move the line along. That, plus saving about 5 cent per new card, could save quite a bit of money. Which is a really 💩tty thing for them to do, but I put nothing past current management.
pw scrooge GIF
 

Darstarr

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
In the Parks
No
Let's see,.... Doing the math.... If you start drinking at 10:30 am at the secret bar cart at Disney,.... And you sell half your liver and one of your kidneys to pay for those prices,.... You'll probably make it to at least 3pm before needing an ambulance, right?!

😂😂
HEY! No math! It upsets @Plowboy
Anthony Hopkins Quote GIF by Top 100 Movie Quotes of All Time

Not creepy at all…
But I do like fava beans👍
 

Darstarr

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
In the Parks
No
Glad you enjoyed your evening at Epcot with some magician friends! How great that you were able to slip through on Ratatouille!!! I agree about the new Harmonious show which definitely has ruined the whole look of the WS! Your Genie+ experience at DHS is going so well this day!!!
I am killing it with genie+ this day. The secret to genie+ is you have to treat it like my college boyfriends, you can’t be too picky.
 

Darstarr

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
In the Parks
No
So it seems like maybe they’re trying to make it super inconvenient so that maybe some people will just not try to use their discount on smaller purchases where maybe they feel pressured to move the line along. That, plus saving about 5 cent per new card, could save quite a bit of money. Which is a really 💩tty thing for them to do, but I put nothing past current management.
pw scrooge GIF
Amen brother…
Talking Episode 19 GIF by The Simpsons
 

donaldtoo

Well-Known Member
What was the official BS they told us? It will be more convenient? And you can store it in your apple wallet.
It is not easier because you can not just show them your card that is in your apple wallet. I guess it would be too easy to screen shot and send to a friend? I had to open my dvc app and pull up my card plus show my license every single time. With Disney wifi it was slowwwwww. But hey, if Disney wants to say that is easier let the line form behind me. They are just cheap and must be getting a kickback from apple.

Btw, one time, I thought I was on the ball and opened the dvc app and had the card on the screen ready to go and the CM told me she had to see me open it. What????

4CB265D0-013C-45A6-BF33-B2667DC0808F.gif
 

donaldtoo

Well-Known Member
Friday April 8 cont

I was watching the single rider line closely. I was wondering if LL was faster than single rider. It was.
Speaking of LL, once I tapped into RnR I made another one…
View attachment 635849
I had some time and one of my favorite spots was open.
View attachment 635850
View attachment 635851
This is the cherry blossom but it looks really orange doesn't it?
View attachment 635853
I strolled, sipped and window shopped…
View attachment 635852

At the end of Sunset I made a right and skirted past the Brown Derby on my way towards Animation Courtyard and all of a sudden I saw this:
View attachment 635854
To help you get your bearings, the dance party building is behind the beige wall directly behind the bar. The arch leading to Little Mermaid is to your left.
Do you all know about this bar? I have never seen it! And there was a line. I walked over because I had to see for myself.
View attachment 635855
View attachment 635856
I commented that this bar is the best kept secret at HWS and the bartender asked me to share the secret with my friends. The men on line both asked me not to share it with too many friends😀

Tito’s
View attachment 635857

I will have to try this place next time.

Woof, those drink prices…!!!!! :eek:o_O:hilarious:
But, Tito’s from Austin, where we live…they’ve won major awards…!!!!! :D🤣

1C59EDA9-9482-44FF-9C65-1DAF568087F3.gif
 

donaldtoo

Well-Known Member
Let's see,.... Doing the math.... If you start drinking at 10:30 am at the secret bar cart at Disney,.... And you sell half your liver and one of your kidneys to pay for those prices,.... You'll probably make it to at least 3pm before needing an ambulance, right?!

😂😂

No, no , no…she needs to sell a kidney and a lung…she’s gonna’ need all the liver she’s got to absorb all the good stuff…!!!!! :D:hilarious:;)
 
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