Tink *~*~*
Cast Member
Posts: 1066
Registered: Aug 2002
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Posted 11-18-02 08:05 PM
Sunday 10 November 2002
Boo Hoo, Our Last Day!
I did my usual sprint across 192 for breakfast, and came back to the hotel to find many, many veterans assembling there for a parade. There were flags and uniforms, and lots of cheerful old folks milling about. I had already packed my stuff and stowed it in the car, because ST was going to take me to the airport later and then reunite with the family at Epcot.
AAACK! It’s Super Soap Weekend!!
It was another glorious, hot Florida day, and soon the family emerged from the breakfast buffet and it was off to Disney MGM Studios. PD and D had gone on ahead of us and said they would meet us at the BAH (big-ass hat). Now then, I knew it would be Super Soap Weekend because I’d seen the commercials on TV, but I wasn’t prepared for the throngs of people entering the park. The CMs were actually directing people to park in non-spaces, even on the grass!
Whoops!!
When we walked to the trams, AN and I got on, but AD and ST and the stroller were locked out by the throngs, so we went on ahead of them. As soon as the tram lurched forward, I realized a fatal error in that AN was sitting on the outside seat. I made her scramble over me and switched places with her. God forbid I should have to tell her parents, “Oh, she fell out of the tram on the way over here, didn’t you see her in the road as you passed by?” She is six, but she is still little enough to fall out!
Meet Me At The BAH!
We waited after the security check and it wasn’t long before AD and ST came along. We tried as best we could to navigate through the crowds to the BAH, but it was slow going. Finally made it there and found PD and D. AT that point, I whipped out an internet certificate I had printed out, and got AN her very own Magical Moments pin, which comes with an extra set of batteries. The certificate entitled me to a pin with Mickey sitting at a computer – very cute. I also used the courtesy phone to make a Priority Seating at the San Angel restaurant at the Mexico pavilion at Epcot for lunch. I just had to get back there and have another of their delicious mango margaritas that I’d had there in March.
Morning at MGM!
At this point, we split up, because PD and D wanted to do two things that just weren’t up AN’s alley. One, the Rockin’ Roller Coaster and two, the 100 Years of Magic exhibit and film, which I’d seen in March and loved. ST, AD and AN went to live performances of Playhouse and Little Mermaid while we were doing those other things. Rockin’ Roller Coaster is a blast, and I love Aerosmith, so it was a good time. The film about Walt Disney’s life, One Man’s Dream, is just awesome. He was truly a genius, in my opinion.
When we came out of the film, we had a bit of trouble getting the cell phones to work, so we chose to hang out by the exit of Little Mermaid and wait. Meanwhile, a stage had been erected in front of the BAH and the throngs were there watching interviews of a bunch of actors from the soap opera General Hospital. It was kind of neat trying to identify them from their voices. Don’t get me wrong, I love the soaps, but I would never attend one of these cattle drives on purpose! It just so happened that the last weekend of ST and AD’s trip was Super Soap Weekend. Soon the Little Mermaid show was over, and we were able to hook up with the rest of the family again. We beat it the heck out of MGM and got into our cars and headed to....
Epcot Again!
Now I could clearly see all the gardens and exhibits from the Food and Wine Festival, and as we were walking over the bridge from Innoventions to World Showcase, we saw a baby duck in the water. So naturally AN had to stop and watch it, and soon there were a bunch of people hanging over the railing watching with us. We slowly made our way to Mexico and once inside the Mayan temple and out of the heat and sun, we were all very hungry. It is a very soothing restaurant, nice and dark. A little mariachi band came out and they were excellent. I got my mango margarita and we all ordered various Mexican dishes and shared them around. Totally stuffed, we waddled out of there.
There was still a little time before we had to head to the airport, so we cruised back to Imagination with Figment. This attraction is much, much improved since they inserted the Figment character back into it. Eric Idle is fine and dandy, but he just wasn’t cutting it all by himself. The ride dumps out into an exploration area and the ever-present gift shop. That’s where I said my goodbyes to the family. My flight was at 6:05 PM and PD and D weren’t’ flying back until 8PM, so I had to go before they did.
Going Home (snif!) and the Starbucks Fiasco!
ST and I made it to the airport in good time, and I checked my luggage at the curb, staying outside in the brilliant sunshine for as long as I could. I had all my winter stuff in the carry on, but didn’t want to change into it quite yet. Finally, I headed inside and thought it would be nice to have a mocha frap for the trip home, so I stopped at Starbucks and got one. Then I headed for the security line, which was considerable. When I finally got to the front of the line, they wouldn’t let me through with the Starbucks. They said I could either throw it out, drink it right then and there, or go back to Starbuck’s and ask them for a paper cup instead of plastic, but there was no way they were letting me through with the plastic cup! Huh? What’s up with that? Considering how long I’d been on line, I wasn’t going back to Starbucks to get a different cup, so I just ditched it. Boy was I disgusted with that one. The airport, the airline and Starbucks are all getting nasty letters from me. Why is Starbucks even using the dumb old plastic cups if they aren’t allowed through security? Sheesh!
Once aboard, the flight home was uneventful, save for a toddler with interesting aroma in the seat in front of me. The young woman sitting next to me and I kept making loud remarks about dirty diapers, but none of the parents involved were taking the hint.
Once again, Southwest got into Long Island a bit early, and boy was it cold – also, it was raining again! Sheesh, I leave in the rain and I return in the rain. I think we’ve had one semi-sunny day since I’ve returned. I know it was only a week ago, but it seems so long! Considering I’ve made three trips to Florida this year alone, I guess I should start thinking about relocating. Small matter of a job to work out and all, but I really don’t go in for this cold and miserable winter stuff any more. The older I get, the harder it gets.
Well, then – someday!!
Tink *~*~*
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