The Chit Chat Chit Chat Thread

[StarWarsGirl]

It's called the weather alert going up a level causing loud pings to go off. Today was supposed to be one of 2 days a year I supposedly get to sleep in. I'm spending my day off cooking

I have my phone and the Echo in my room set to Do Not Disturb from 11-7 for that reason. They only go off for set alarms.

Although one morning my brother decided at 8 that I should be up and called in my room to wake me up, on a morning when I definitely did not need to be up. I put it on Do Not Disturb and went back to sleep.

 

[wdwfan4ver]

I was talking to a Disney friend about wether moving to Orlando would make WDW less magical. It would be great in theory to be so close by that you can go every weekend or an evening but I'm worried it will make it less special. Maybe it would be better to live within easy driving distance so we could visit lots of weekends? What do my Disney friends think?

For me, I rather live in Wisconsin. I look at stuff more than Disney for living somewhere. I rather not go to Disney in easy driving distance. The first thing is I would treat WDW as Door County. While WDW offers more than Door County, I think its possible to suffer burn out like I did at Door County years ago due to staying there too long.

What happened to with Door County was due to me growing having my mom's late uncle and late Aunt living there in certain months of the year with me visiting them for a full week up each year at a vacation spot that is meant for a weekend getaway. I spend time with my mom's aunt and uncle each day at Door county, but w

The 2nd thing I would miss too much in Wisconsin. I enjoying doing stuff like the Wisconsin State Fair, Door County, Midwest Gaming Classic( Expo that has video games, arcade games, trade games, pinball games, table top gaming,air hockey, sorry this expo has nothing to do with casino gaming). The Midwest Gaming Classic this year even has 2 former Disney employees as vips including a former imagineer/employee of animation department that was one the imagineers that worked on Epcot Center before it opened in 1982.

The former Disney imagineer/animator in question is Tad Stones. Tad Stones Imagineer background was World of Motion and apparently one of the people that did something with the imagination pavilion. Tad Stone's animation department background was best known for his Disney animated cartoons such being the creator of Chip'n Dale Rescue Rangers and Duckwing Duck.

Wisconsin also has food and stores that I would miss.

 

[Gabe1]

He used it as his daily walk and said he just liked to sit relax, enjoy the atmosphere, and sometimes talk to people. I thought that sounded wonderful.ybe @

This is what I dreamed of for decades. I am a long distance walker for daily exercise. Epcot and AK lend themselves well for daily walking as does Springs.

I have also dreamt of driving to a resort like Springs or boardwalk along with the moderates taking out my bike and just riding for an hour or two. So many ways to enjoy the parks beyond commando. I fear the security to enter different resorts might curtail my dream of bike riding. Maybe @epcotisbest will have some clues for me.

 

[Gabe1]

I was talking to a Disney friend about wether moving to Orlando would make er. WDW less magical. It would be great in theory to be so close by that you can go every weekend or an evening but I'm worried it will make it less special. Maybe it would be better to live within easy driving distance so we could visit lots of weekends? What do my Disney friends think?

Moving is a short term goal for us. I’m over Illinois. The weather is nasty.
We shall see where we all land. Me closer is better but if I bored with the parks I could move to a beach area close but still make pilgramages. I’m not likely to bond with a town or home like I have the last 35 years so I’m open to change.

 

[Gabe1]

Maybe I just have a thing for Brians who love Disney. But this deserves a viewing every now and then. Eh, @BuddyThomas ?



P.S. he’s a state representative in PA.

I laughed, smiled and boy those eyes

 

[Gabe1]

Not enough vases ...
View attachment 353943View attachment 353944View attachment 353945

Hi Pluto!

 

[Gabe1]

No snow here, but the cold is on the way. Wind chill advisory already up.

It is nasty cold.

 

[Cesar R M]

Trip Report Part 17:

Not so new San Juan and continued Photo Spam..

More of the "Cave" and the Museum..







After that, we took the Minivan back to old San Juan after doing a full circle of the entire San Juan area thru the highway.
We seen some factory and other old smaller buildings from the conquistadores, like other Fortines (tiny square forts)



before entering the crazyness of Old San Juan, which was by now completely walled by road barriers. Only allowing big buses and taxis/tours to get inside.
Our tour guy had to use a lot of his techniques to convince a police officer to open the barrier and let us enter and get closer ( Speech + 100 joke going on).

Unfortunately there was a monstrous line of taxis and buses to get downtown. It was moving so slow that by the time we reached the Forts, we would have to run to the ship.
So he got us as close as possible, gave us directions, paid him and went our way to the cruise ships.



All the roads had crowd barriers and cops everywhere. The place was almost ready for the carnival, processions and other stuff which was supposed to last at least a week.

After a ton of walking, we made it to Fort Castillo de San Cristobal.
There were not that many people and because of the shutdown, the entrance was free. (lol). That is good since we feared they would close down the forts completely.


We entered and we tried to do the fastest run everywhere to show all things, the main batteries and some stuff from inside.


Our ship from the preparation area of the Fort, this is between the main battery of the San Cristobal's fort and the East redoubt battery.
On this picture I'm facing south. So technically the Redoubt is on the left and the main battery is on the right.

Viejo San Juan · San Juan, 00901, Puerto Rico

San Juan, 00901, Puerto Rico

www.google.com

We decided to hurry and skip the redoubt area all together and went to the main entrance on the right side (north side or behind the above photo) towards the main "connection" tunnel, used get to the masmorras (dungeons) and move the canons between the fort areas.

My nephew and my niece we went quickly towards the third level battery where the flags are while my sister and mom stayed in the main courtyard reading some stuff.


Third battery of Castillo de San Cristobal, facing East, towards the Castillo de San Felipe del Morro.



Facing south, you can see in the left side.. the Scrubber of the Allure starting to work.

Now, at this moment my mother and sister had a panic attack, despite we still having 1hour and half, they tough the ship was about to leave. When in-reality the scrubber was turned on because it was almost lunchtime and all the restaurants were working.

Still, for ease of mind we decided to check quickly the rest of the area.. and we left from the front door, walking down (West entrance/exit)
towards the small "loading" courtyard that leads to the Bastions that protect the city and towards El Morro.

Then we walked fast towards the pier, only stopping to try a few things.
My Sister and nephew wanted to try a local beer that was sort of famous and wanted a photo, unfortunately.. during these days.. no alcoholic drinks are allowed in public. So we went our way with a few gifts from the random stores and street vendors in our path.

We then boarded the ship and went to eat something. This time I just decided to get some Pizza where my Sister and mom went to the buffet.
Then I stayed most of the time in the back of the ship, awaiting the "sail away party" that again was canceled because mechanical issues in the aqua theater.


after 3 hours.. (1 hour late because another Carnival ship somehow was let go first before us.. lol..)
We finally started to move away from San Juan, doing an impressive maneuver that required all the local airport traffic from the Fernandi Ribas Isla Grande Airport to go AROUND the ship. It was SO BIG that planes had to reroute to the sides during their approach to prevent getting too close to the super tall towering exhausts of the Allure of the Seas.



El Morro from the Allure as we departed.

This time interestingly, the ship was followed by 3 armed ships as it went towards the exit of San Juan's bay.

Next day was time for some completely carefree day.. at Labadee.


Continued on part 18 with a few more photos.

 

[Cesar R M]

Part 18

Random Photos




San Felipe del Morro


and San Cristobal..

Also of the "self appreciative" of the ships' offerings.. (lol)






Of the Museum..


That woman had a record of more than 130 Keys of Cities around the world.








Now, let's talk about the horrible and self absorbed Ice Show.
While the artists and the actions and tricks were VERY good..
The whole theme was pathetic pandering of advertising their own offers.
The "Ice Games" was like... displaying areas of the ships and themeing songs that somehow fit with certain things. All the stuff was themed like the "viewer" was a "gamer" and the artists were the pieces or part of the "game".

The game first shows a few screens like it was a digital computer game. Then a young skating comes out and randomly selects a person to press the button, where it starts "the game". Then they dance a few minutes on the theme of one song and one game (example.. monopoly). Then it goes downhill from there.
As the last parts was pretty much a self inserted ad where they show each part (or neighborhoods) of the ship... and try to make histories based on a game on that area and they dance with random popular songs that sort of fit the theme.

The worst was the obviously when they advertised the SPA AND the Casino... :|

This was a huge bad contrast in entertainment compared to the Oasis, which had show related to a famous writer (the one who wrote the little ugly duckling, the emperors new groove, all based no histories of Hans Christian Andersen) and fit perfectly fine.

anyway we all left all puzzled and confused.
And to be honest.. I fear what the "original" creations will be from Royal Caribbean now that they have canceled the contract with Dreamworks... and I do not have much hope lol..

 

[MinnieM123]

Now, let's talk about the horrible and self absorbed Ice Show.
While the artists and the actions and tricks were VERY good..
The whole theme was pathetic pandering of advertising their own offers.
The "Ice Games" was like... displaying areas of the ships and themeing songs that somehow fit with certain things. All the stuff was themed like the "viewer" was a "gamer" and the artists were the pieces or part of the "game".

That's too bad that they couldn't just have a nice ice skating show and leave it at that. Sounds cheazoid what they did with the advertising "games".

Anyway, great pictures of your trip as usual. I really like reading your impressions of all the places you visited.

 

[MinnieM123]

For me, I rather live in Wisconsin. I look at stuff more than Disney for living somewhere. I rather not go to Disney in easy driving distance. The first thing is I would treat WDW as Door County. While WDW offers more than Door County, I think its possible to suffer burn out like I did at Door County years ago due to staying there too long.

What happened to with Door County was due to me growing having my mom's late uncle and late Aunt living there in certain months of the year with me visiting them for a full week up each year at a vacation spot that is meant for a weekend getaway. I spend time with my mom's aunt and uncle each day at Door county, but w

The 2nd thing I would miss too much in Wisconsin. I enjoying doing stuff like the Wisconsin State Fair, Door County, Midwest Gaming Classic( Expo that has video games, arcade games, trade games, pinball games, table top gaming,air hockey, sorry this expo has nothing to do with casino gaming). The Midwest Gaming Classic this year even has 2 former Disney employees as vips including a former imagineer/employee of animation department that was one the imagineers that worked on Epcot Center before it opened in 1982.

The former Disney imagineer/animator in question is Tad Stones. Tad Stones Imagineer background was World of Motion and apparently one of the people that did something with the imagination pavilion. Tad Stone's animation department background was best known for his Disney animated cartoons such being the creator of Chip'n Dale Rescue Rangers and Duckwing Duck.

Wisconsin also has food and stores that I would miss.

Yep, Wisconsin sounds like the place to be!! You can always visit WDW, but you have some highlights in your own state that can't be duplicated.

 

[MinnieM123]

@figmentfan423 , we have about 9 inches of snow!! It's been coming down heavy for a few hours now. I'll just shovel the front steps and then walk to a bus stop and wait for the first bus (whether to the highway or a train station). It's really nice snow to walk in--packed, not icy. Love it!!

 

[FutureCEO]

@figmentfan423 , we have about 9 inches of snow!! It's been coming down heavy for a few hours now. I'll just shovel the front steps and then walk to a bus stop and wait for the first bus (whether to the highway or a train station). It's really nice snow to walk in--packed, not icy. Love it!!

My local news said 3 - 6 even when the storm started last night. The weather channel said 8 - 12. I think the weather channel was right. I also think I'm not going into work at my regular time.

 

[Santa Raccoon 77]

@figmentfan423 , we have about 9 inches of snow!! It's been coming down heavy for a few hours now. I'll just shovel the front steps and then walk to a bus stop and wait for the first bus (whether to the highway or a train station). It's really nice snow to walk in--packed, not icy. Love it!!

<jealous>

 

[Songbird76]

Anyone seen Bohemian Rhapsody? I bought the DVD and watched it today. Good flick (love the music of Queen), but sad about Freddie Mercury. He was so talented, and the musical world lost a star too soon.

The actor who portrayed him in the movie won the Oscar. He was amazing.

I saw it in the theater with DH and DD. Great movie, and of course the music is amazing. I had to go home and look a lot of stuff up because I wasn't sure how much was exaggerated for the screen. Apparently they took a lot of license with the time line. And the character that was the producer guy didn't really exist. And Freddie did not meet the band when their lead singer quit in the middle of a set. He was a roommate or friend of the guy who quit. But the stuff about making the Bohemian Rhapsody at the studio in that house in the country was all true, which is pretty cool to see. I really liked the movie overall and I liked researching what was real and what wasn't, but I'm a nerd like that.

 

[12in12]

For me, I rather live in Wisconsin. I look at stuff more than Disney for living somewhere. I rather not go to Disney in easy driving distance. The first thing is I would treat WDW as Door County. While WDW offers more than Door County, I think its possible to suffer burn out like I did at Door County years ago due to staying there too long.

What happened to with Door County was due to me growing having my mom's late uncle and late Aunt living there in certain months of the year with me visiting them for a full week up each year at a vacation spot that is meant for a weekend getaway. I spend time with my mom's aunt and uncle each day at Door county, but w

The 2nd thing I would miss too much in Wisconsin. I enjoying doing stuff like the Wisconsin State Fair, Door County, Midwest Gaming Classic( Expo that has video games, arcade games, trade games, pinball games, table top gaming,air hockey, sorry this expo has nothing to do with casino gaming). The Midwest Gaming Classic this year even has 2 former Disney employees as vips including a former imagineer/employee of animation department that was one the imagineers that worked on Epcot Center before it opened in 1982.

The former Disney imagineer/animator in question is Tad Stones. Tad Stones Imagineer background was World of Motion and apparently one of the people that did something with the imagination pavilion. Tad Stone's animation department background was best known for his Disney animated cartoons such being the creator of Chip'n Dale Rescue Rangers and Duckwing Duck.

Wisconsin also has food and stores that I would miss.

I have lived in quite a few countries of the years, some within Europe some further away. I know I will always miss certain elements from different places, like the wonderful coffee and pizza in Italy or the beautiful camping in Australia, but I do think I would be happy living in Florida. It offers a lot more than just Disney, Orlando and surrounding area is actually quite nice. I've been to a food festival there and a large garden estate with historical houses and I'm sure there are other things I haven't even heard off.

Moving is a short term goal for us. I’m over Illinois. The weather is nasty.
We shall see where we all land. Me closer is better but if I bored with the parks I could move to a beach area close but still make pilgramages. I’m not likely to bond with a town or home like I have the last 35 years so I’m open to change.

Change can be great! I would love to live close to the beach as well. Have you looked at places yet you would consider moving to?

 

[DryerLintFan]

A book? How exciting! Growing up on a school bus should make for an interesting story.
Time does fly when you have kids. Is she still taking ballet? How is grad school gojng?

She's on break from ballet. She had decided she didn't want to go a few months back. Now she wants to go again, but I'm waiting on the divorce stuff to settle so I don't end up signing up for a day that ends up being her dad's day of the week. She gets really attached to her class friends, so it's not easy to switch her from one day of the week to another.

I'm on break from grad school due to the stroke. I'm not entirely sure I want to go back this year. Might just take a year to get my life back where I want it, and then reassess next year.

 

[12in12]

She's on break from ballet. She had decided she didn't want to go a few months back. Now she wants to go again, but I'm waiting on the divorce stuff to settle so I don't end up signing up for a day that ends up being her dad's day of the week. She gets really attached to her class friends, so it's not easy to switch her from one day of the week to another.

I'm on break from grad school due to the stroke. I'm not entirely sure I want to go back this year. Might just take a year to get my life back where I want it, and then reassess next year.

Sounds like things have been rough for you while I wasn't checking in. I'm sorry your year has been challenging but it's nice you are making plans and moving forward with your life.

 

[Figgy1]

 

[Figgy1]

She's on break from ballet. She had decided she didn't want to go a few months back. Now she wants to go again, but I'm waiting on the divorce stuff to settle so I don't end up signing up for a day that ends up being her dad's day of the week. She gets really attached to her class friends, so it's not easy to switch her from one day of the week to another.

I'm on break from grad school due to the stroke. I'm not entirely sure I want to go back this year. Might just take a year to get my life back where I want it, and then reassess next year.

Sympathy like but at least you're making good decisions for both of you