dandaman Reloaded: 8/22-9/2

Hiya, folks! I just got back from an awesome trip to the World… and then some! I have school starting tomorrow, so excuse any possible delays on posting. Today, I don’t think I’ll even get to WDW with the updates! I’ll writethe report, then put the pictures with captions in the second half.

On with the show!

Day 1: Virginia Company

My family and I woke up around 5 a.m., though truth be told, I doubt anyone got much sleep. We loaded up the car (I think my dad would do wonders playing Tetris…), and left the house about 8 in the morning.

Gee, after that last paragraph, we’re REALLY off to an interesting start.

Anyway, I don’t suppose there’s much to say about today. A few notes from what I recall:

- For some reason, Mapquest had us cut clear across Ohio’s heartland to West Virginia, instead of taking the Turnpike to I-77 at Cleveland. However, it was actually a lot more interesting to drive that way, as there was a lot of different scenery changes I didn’t expect.

- Ate at “the ol’ standby”, Steak ‘n Shake, just before Columbus. The first time we ate here was just outside WDW almost 6 years ago, and I’ve loved it ever since. P.S. To the servers: Is it really that weird to order a Side-By-Side shake with chocolate mint and orange Freeze?… :lookaroun

- Just before hitting West Virginia, there were some really spectacular clouds overhead. It made the scenery look close to perfect.

- We finally arrived in Beckley, WV, around 4 p.m., and did a bit o’ shopping… well, kinda. The family did shopping, while I played some songs on some $25000 digital piano. I was amused, if not briefly. :D

“Ze Photos”

Either those are the weirdest clouds I’ve ever seen, or a thousand jets streaked across the sky without me knowing.

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If only I’d put the camera settings to 1024x768 instead of the lowest resolution.

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Ooh, the Ohio River… no one’s EVER seen this shot before.
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Welcome to redneck country!
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OMG! They painted the Capitol Building GOLD!

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…And that’s it for the pics today. Not much you can do sitting around in the car for 8 hours.

Tomorrow, we visit North and South Carolina! (*holds cue card* “Ooh, aah!”)​
 

dandaman

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
I still can’t get over how well-themed everything is here. Mexico…

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China…

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Some random boats…

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Germany…

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Italy…

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…And then there’s Canada. @!$#

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Exclusive shot… Spaceship Earth, ALMOST SANS WAND! (See? Trees are good for more than through the tree shots.)

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It’s America. Um… yeah.

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Mmm… international ice cream. *drools*

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dandaman

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
We made it to Teppanyaki with about 2 minutes to spare until reservations. Unfortunately, not only is Works being temperamental, but so is Photobucket, so I can’t upload the freaking hilarious videos from my dining experience. I promise I’ll work them in somewhere!

Anyway, I’ve never really liked Asian food… don’t know why. (Save for maybe chicken balls and those crunchy Chinese noodle things.) However, I’d come back to Teppanyaki 10 times more, just for the brought-to-the-table entertainment. Awesome.

Though I don’t quite care for seaweed as an appetizer…

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…I’m entertained by trying to figure out how to use those blasted chopsticks, if not briefly and for a price.

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The finished product: filet mignon with some weird sprout thingies that I didn’t eat. Filet was great, though!

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For some unknown reason, this ice cream tastes better than most, and like chocolate ice cream should: like FROZEN FUDGE!

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We met up with my mom’s “college friends” after. Turns out they were dining at the same restaurant. They always visit WDW at least thrice a year.

It started to rain shortly before meal’s end…

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…But no matter! I’ll just go visit that Tin Toy Stories exhibit.

Now, I could’ve sworn this used to be SOMEONE’S avatar… though the name escapes me.

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Artsy Japanese shot time!

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Wonder how much this frame would go for at Wal-Mart.

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dandaman

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum

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I like this photo…

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…But I love this one a lot more! This is my current wallpaper (Shameless Plug® #3), and most likely my favourite picture of the entire trip.

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Les Photos D’Arts

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Hey, Joe… do the following photos remind you of your everyday, stereotypically English life?

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For those of you who say that Epcot needs a roller coaster…

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dandaman

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
I still find it funny that I can buy 5 of those Aero bars at home for the price of one here. Heh.

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“PLAY ‘MAGIC BUS’!!!”

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Look, I’m home! (And of course, we all live in grand chateaus.)

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She was on the college program and went to my high school last year… honest!

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Yay!

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According to Disney, Canada is forever stuck in the 80’s.

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But we also have waterfalls everywhere!

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And pine trees are second only to maple around these parts.

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Serene rapids are just a part of most of our backyards!

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And there’s no question that we’re all Natives.

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dandaman

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Moving on, my godmother apparently tries to “pet” the ducks.

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We went back to their hotel (Yacht Club) for a brief visit with the rest of the family.

Snake-like creature… ON a tree… THROUGH the tree! This is the ultimate exclusive shot!

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Nice hotel view.

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Back in Canada, I forgot to mention our wonderfully-kept gardens in our front yards.

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Ah, but this is what we’re really here for!

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The Problem

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The Solution

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I chose for my appetizer what many people seemed to hold in the highest regard: cheddar cheese soup. It sounded a bit weird to me, but I ordered it just the same.

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It was… weird. Not extremely good, not too bad… just kind of weird. Maybe it’s an acquired taste.

But this, THIS is what I’m here for: The mother of all filet mignon steaks: medium with maple barbecue sauce!

Funny, though… it looks relatively big…

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…Then it just kind of doesn’t.

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Anyway, that was quite honestly the best steak I’ve ever had. Go Canada!
 

dandaman

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
My dessert was quite good, too… I thought it was peppermint on top, but it turned out to be white chocolate.

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Mom’s dessert was quite funny: Chocolate Moose!

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Then there was my sister’s, which was some weird marshmallow brownie concoction from the kid’s menu. Looked all colourful and purty, though she seemed to use it as a candy weapon after the meal.

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Does this count as a fireworks picture? I can’t tell.

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And you thought the wand was bad… Now they have a big line straight through the middle!

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Question: Where would a teenager go during Epcot Extra Magic Hours, when he seemingly has the park all to himself?

Why, Mexico, of course!

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Fine… does THIS count as a fireworks shot?

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A parting shot.

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I’d never seen the drawbridge up for the Illuminations barges before…

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…And apparently, you won’t either. Er… use your imagination…?
 

dandaman

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
So, after Mexico, there wasn’t much else to do. We decided to head over to Germany for some shopping… and here’s where my whole day was turned from “pretty good” to “best day ever”!

One of the CM’s working at the German pavilion is on the college program, and posts at Theme Park Review.com, my favourite website/discussion boards besides these. He’s a really fun guy, and when I heard last year he was moving from Germany to WDW, I couldn’t wait to talk with him.

Nearly the entire vacation passed, and I hadn’t been able to find him anywhere in Germany. I was kinda disappointed.

So imagine my surprise when the first shop I visited had him working there!

We talked for a few minutes before I asked if I could have a picture.

“Well, of course, but let me get my camera too, so I can post it!”

So, he brought me around the shop, giving me some things for the photo.

“Oh, we have to get these German flags, and these hats, too!”

So, without further ado, I present to you: SOREN!

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Like I said… great guy. He was hilarious, and that alone probably made my entire vacation. :D

(Oh, and I look completely stupid in that picture, but not more so than usual, I guess.)

That about covers it for this, my final park update. Tomorrow, I dread… the end of my TR.

…Oh, well. It’s been fun, that’s all I can say.

‘Till then!
 

Uponastar

Well-Known Member
Mmm… international ice cream. *drools*

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For some unknown reason, this ice cream tastes better than most, and like chocolate ice cream should: like FROZEN FUDGE!

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Yay! :sohappy: :slurp:


Now, I could’ve sworn this used to be SOMEONE’S avatar… though the name escapes me.

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Yay!:sohappy:
Bunny!!!!


And you thought the wand was bad… Now they have a big line straight through the middle!

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Ha!:lol:
Funny!




A parting shot.

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One more Yay! :sohappy:
 

bayoutinkbelle

Active Member
Thanks again, Danny!

I saw the Epcot bridge up on my last trip. It caught me by surprise at first, but we waited for the tiny boat to go through and the bridge to come down. Then, in a cosmically inspired moment, people from both sides yelled, "Charge!" as they started to walk toward each other. It was the funniest moment from my trip.

Oh, and Danny, I was guessing the Monty Python mountaineering sketch with John Cleese as the guy who kept seeing double. That's not right? *whimper* :(
 

dandaman

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Days 12/13: Homeward Bound

*sigh*… As the title says. I’m sure many people here can attest to how depressing the day you leave is. However, I’m just glad I got to have the experience, as always.

Before I continue on, Photobucket screwed up last night, so there’s a couple of departing Epcot pics. Considering my camera’s nighttime track record, I was pleasantly surprised at how well these turned out.

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So, on our last day, we maxed out our table service credits at Chef Mickey’s!

Aah, Bay Lake… how I love thee.

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I didn’t make that HM! You can’t prove I did!

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The brownie looked lonely, so I added some things for “cullerrrr”. It’s a good thing. [/Martha]

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The Chef Mickey’s atmosphere is one of frenzy every 45 minutes or so.

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As I took these next pictures, the horrible thought struck me: this is the first WDW trip ever that I HADN’T RIDDEN THE MONORAIL! I don’t know how significant that is, but I’m sure it will be responsible for at least two shrink visits later in life, discussing my neglected childhood.

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And so, our Disney vacation comes to a solemn close.

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dandaman

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Emptying out onto 192...

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…And everything still taunts me.

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At least there’s one part of Florida that always seems to stay with me.

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(Day 13)

YAY!… Wait a minute.

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Insert caption here

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Since we’re in Tennessee, I can kind of understand this…

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…But did they have a 2-for-1 special at the Crucifix Outlet Mall?

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People have trusted Ferris wheels at fireworks stores before… they just haven’t returned to tell the tale.

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Déjà vu…

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I’m not quite sure why this was my final picture of the update. It’s rather insignificant. But I’ll label it an exclusive shot because I’m cheap like that!

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dandaman

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
This concludes our tour! Please carefully step out of the trip report to your right, down the exit ramp.

And above all, thanks for reading! I can’t tell if you had a better time reading or I writing/taking photos for it! Thank you! I’m here ‘till Thursday! Try the filet mignon!

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Disnut

Member
Great TR Danny. I have enjoyed every minute of it. You made me laugh and cry because I want to be there sooo much. Thanks again.:sohappy: :sohappy: :sohappy: :sohappy: :sohappy: :sohappy:
 

jesserin

New Member
I didn’t make that HM! You can’t prove I did!

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(did anyone else notice the HUGE pile of bacon here? ;) Got Pig?) :D

Okay danny... Sooooooooooooooooo glad you had so much fun.... wish you could go back next week just for another TR :D

:sohappy: :sohappy: :sohappy: :sohappy: :sohappy: :sohappy:
Great Great Job Danny!
 

unkadug

Follower of "Saget"The Cult
Great report Dan !

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and like I said before, you've got some winning pictures!


BTW-it never fails, no matter where you go you will always run into people that you know.

It really IS a small world!
 

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