Weighty Wednesday -- Tis the Season!

Stay strong, my friends!

The rough weight-loss season is still upon us: various parties, social gatherings, extra samples at the grocery story, food in the break room, and all sorts of temptations no matter where you go.

It's hard to resist.

I know.

But I also know that you can survive without that second Polar Bear Poop (recipe in link). One, I'll let you have, but you need to count it as 2 WW points, just saying. Take your time to enjoy the one candy, savor it, draw out the flavor, enjoy the delicate way it excites your senses.

Food will be all around you during the next few weeks, and there is no way to pre-calculate your points for the day. If you have enough will power simply walk away, but it doesn't mean you won't be malleable to suggestion the next day or the next.

And you can't avoid your co-workers forever . . . though you might want to.

So how do you approach the season?

I know I'm not one to talk since I work from home, BUT I do remember the days of sniffing out the goodies in the lab.

And I was good at it.

How would I approach the cornucopia of nummy goodies?

The best defense is a good offense--simply stay away from the goodies!

But as I said that doesn't always happen and it's impractical.

Here are a few tips & tricks:

• drink a glass of water before walking into the gauntlet of goodies
• peruse the table--what is the one thing you only get this time of year? Forget the dry sugar cookies or someone's poor attempt at fudge, or make your own fudge with Mag's Decedent fudge. Only choose items that are rarely eaten. Now is the time to be picky.
• Don't waste your WW points on something that doesn't even look good to you. Yes, if Sally from accounting is pressuring you to try her {insert _____ here} then by all means, take some. REMEMBER you don't have to actually EAT it!
• Eat a protein-laced snack prior to the high-sugar, high-carb, high-fat gathering: an ounce of almonds, or an ounce of cheese, or a hardboiled egg.

The key to surviving this season is not to give up.

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”
― Winston Churchill

 

You might stumble once or twice during this season, but never give up, because when you give up you will surely fail.

 

Later, Peeps! 

Weighty Wednesday -- Thanksgiving Prepping

Yeah! One more week until Turkey day!

All that yummy turkey, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauces, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, etc, etc.

And don't forget about the beverages: wine, beer, cocktails

Ooooo and desserts . . . notice the "S"?

Yay . . .

Or not.

Yesterday at Weight Watchers we took a plate and figured out how much a small serving size was for the various items and then calculated out points . . .  OUCH!

Look, I didn't even add more than a couple of tablespoons of each virtual food item and it added up to more than my daily totals.

And the sad thing about this was I hadn't even calculated any desserts. Yeah.

So, the good news -- Most of us tend to be very traditional with Thanksgiving. We know exactly what everyone is bringing to the meal, which means you can PRE-PLAN.

Over this next week, everyone who wants to lose weight during Thanksgiving week should be measuring and weighing your food like nobody's business.

Why?

To develop your eye if you don't want to whip out your measuring cups at Grandma's house.

Don't forget to pre-calculate your points. Decide what amounts you want to eat of each food item and look it up ahead of time. That way you can decide if you really want a quarter cup of something or just a taste.

If you plan on having an adult beverage. Calculate it into the equation first. You might change your mind about that glass, or three, of wine.

Realize that plates tend to be huge compared to their counterparts in the past. In other words, my every day Dansk plates are 10 1/2 inches in diameter, whereas my grandmother's china is about 7 1/2 inches in diameter. You might have your food touching on your grandmother's plate, but if you do that on a larger plate, you will be eating at least 2 meals worth of food, without going back for seconds!

Make islands, not continents out of your food. Don't let the individual items touch.

Drink a glass of water before you sit down to eat.

Don't starve yourself to 'safe' your weekly points for a binge-fest, and then gorge on everything. Plan to use those points, but they will disappear faster than you expect! This is why you need to think about what you want to eat and plan for it!

Savor the foods you choose to eat. Take time to enjoy the nuances of the flavors. Appreciate the time your family member took to make the item or meal. Chew longer, talk more, and when you've tried a little of everything -- STOP EATING! It's okay to leave a little food on your plate. If someone hassles you about it--lie. Tell them you're saving room for dessert.

And if Aunt Gertrude insists that you try some of her Jello experiment, taste a little or simply tell her, "No thanks. I have more than enough to eat."

So, in other words, visualize your response to the questions, prompts and various blackmail family members will use to get you to eat.

Again, everything is about pre-planning. Not just what you want to eat and the portion size, but your response to those who want you to try something you hadn't planned on eating.

Good luck!

Later, Peeps!

Walt Disney World -- Magic Kingdom Rides

Finally!! The last installment of the WDW ride breakdown. I saved this one for last because this is the park where the majority of rides are located. As I mentioned before, Disney rides are mild compared to other parks, but that doesn't mean they are less fun.

And there is almost always a story behind each ride.

New version of the map:

Old version of the map:

Again, not a fan of the new maps, but it does have a few of the new rides in the upper right quadrant of Fantasyland.

I'll start off in Tomorrowland, and head counterclockwise, since that seems to be the way we hit the park. The Unofficial Guide book to WDW will give you 'touring' suggestions that will take you back and forth across the park, so if you plan to use one of their tours as a guide, please wear your running shoes!

. . . well, wear your running shoes anyway, because by the end of the day you will have walked MILES.

Again, becoming familiar with the rides and their location will keep you from wasting time as you get your bearings.

Virtually all the rides are wheelchair accessible PROVIDED you can get out of the chair to get on a ride. Wheelchairs are allowed in all the shows and a few of the rides. IF you have a stroller, there is stroller parking near each show/ride.

**Mark your generic stroller/wheelchair with something easily identifiable, such as a red bandana or a pinwheel, or whatever. 'Dirty' diapers have been used to secure one's stroller.**

**if you have a young child who is unable or doesn't want to ride a particular ride, ask an attendant if you can "Switch Off". This basically allows one parent to ride, but then when the ride is over that parent can watch the child while the other parent rides.**

**pick up a times guide to verify meet-n-greet times**

**any ride with a * in front of the ride name is a ride that is on my 'do not miss' list**

MAIN STREET USA

Truthfully, we tend to buzz right through this area to head to Space Mountain, especially in the morning. There are a couple of things you need to know about Main Street. The big central park area is a gathering place for character to take pictures and sign autograph books. To your right, they have been revamping Town Square Theater -- fast pass -- to have an indoor meet-n-greet with Mickey and the Princesses.

Diagonally across the square, they have a new adventure called, Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom, in which a child searches for clues throughout the Kingdom to defeat the Disney Villains. This would be a fun adventure if you've been to the Magic Kingdom numerous times, right up there with finding Hidden Mickeys, but I'd save it until after you experienced all that the Kingdom offers you.

Walt Disney World Railroad -- This is a regular train that goes around the outside edges of the Magic Kingdom. The main station is above the tunnel entrance into the park. The two other stations are in Fantasyland, where ToonTown used to reside (the upper right corner of the map), and Frontierland, between Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain.

TOMORROWLAND

*Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor -- fast pass -- Interactive SHOW -- The fast pass simply gets you to the front of the line. A limited number of people are allowed in the theater at one time. It's an okay show, not my favorite. Save it for the heat of the day.

*Stitch's Great Escape! --SHOW -- 40" height requirement -- DARK -- fun scary-- A little wet -- though there seems to be a ton of people crowding the queuing area, this theater seats quite a few people. Once you pass the outside doors, there are two more queuing areas before the theater. EVERY seat in the round theater is excellent. Once the show starts, the shoulder harnesses come down over your shoulders on each chair. Sit up straight.  DO NOT ALLOW IT TO SMUSH YOU DOWN. It presses down, but then it pops up about 1/2 inch.

This theater used to be where the Alien show was held . . . and that, my friends, was a really scary show!  

*Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin -- SLIGHTLY DARK -- continual two seat cars move through various scenes as you try to take out Zurg. The front of the car closes on you to keep you in place, but you don't care since you have your gun to shoot things! A third small person can sit in the middle, but there are only two guns. Laser guns shoot targets on various objects to earn points.

Carousel of Progress -- SHOW -- it's been YEARS since we saw this show. Very rarely is it crowded. Personally, I think it's dated as technology is progressing so quickly that it simply can't keep up.

*Tomorrowland Transit Authority Peoplemover -- 4-6 person car takes you above the crowds and through a few rides. It helps you rest and get the feel of TOMORROWLAND. It takes you through Buzz Lightyear and Space Mountain, though you won't see anything except the flash of stars, planets, and the rockets unless the ride happens to be down and the lights are on.

Astro Orbiter -- motion sickness --two-seater rockets fly up and down above TOMORROWLAND. Seatbelts and centrifugal force keep you seated.  Similar to Dumbo and Aladdin's Flying Carpets. We did ride this one during Halloween fireworks one year. Now, THAT was really cool! Slow to load and unload. Small groups are taken in elevator to the ride.

*Space Mountain -- fast pass -- 44" height requirement -- DARK -- Two sections of three  seats make up the 'rocket'. You sit one in front of the other. Lap bars hold you in. You really can't see a darn thing so there's no way to brace yourself during this ride. I LOVE this rollercoaster, but it's really rough on your body. It can be very jerky, so if you have neck or back issues, you might want to give this ride a miss.

Tomorrowland Speedway -- 32" to ride, 54" to drive height requirement -- If you've never driven go carts then this might be fun for you. A bunch of cars, running on lawnmower engines, travel on a rail--there is no deviation from the rail or passing. You are stuck on the rail. Of course, this ride is more for the kids than the adults . . . unless the adult wants to relive the magic of the Speedway. I hate to burst your adult bubble, but it isn't the same as it was when you were a kid.

FANTASYLAND

 

Currently, there are two arms to Fantasyland, and they don't meet. When the Seven Dwarves Mine rollercoaster opens up, March 2014 I believe, I think the plan is to open everything up. If you look at the new map and see the big green area with the words, Fantasyland, that is where they are building the mine train.

First, I'll do the path to the right and then go back to do the left path.

Mad Tea Party -- motion sickness -- 2-4 person--when I say up to 4 people, I mean two adults and two little ones NOT four adults-- teacups spin on a moving floor. A fun ride unless your kid is crazed and wants to make you puke. Jus' sayin'.

Fairytale Garden -- head toward Cinderella's Castle opposite direction from the Dumbo rides, very secluded niche-- character meet and greet

Dumbo the Flying Elephant (2) -- motion sickness -- elephants fly around, a lever controls up and down. 2-3 persons per elephant. It's been awhile since we've ridden it, I think seat belts keep you in place.

*The Barnstormer -- fast pass -- 35" height requirement -- This is a fun rollercoaster. A great one to start your kids on. It's not too scary, not too steep, not too long, but it can be fast. Each car seats two people. Recommend one adult to one child per seat. A lap bar with a netting over your legs keeps you in place.

Walt Disney World Railroad -- Fantasyland station. You can get on or get off at any station, BUT you have to leave your scooters and large strollers. Umbrella strollers can be folded up and taken on the train.

Casey Jr. Splash 'N' Soak Station -- A Lot WET-- bring extra clothes

Pete's Silly Slide Show -- character meet and greet 

*The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh -- fast pass -- slight dark -- Each honey pot holds four, two in front, two behind. This is a nice quiet ride through Pooh's mind. The scariest part is his nightmare about heffalumps and woozles. A bar comes down over your legs.

Ariel's Grotto --  character meet and greet

Under the Sea -- Journey of the Little Mermaid -- fast pass -- When we went on this little ride, there was no waiting. It seemed similar to The Seas in EPCOT. Little girls would love this ride. Me, not so much, it was kind of boring.

Enchanted Tales with Belle --  character meet and greet

Prince Charming Regal Carousel -- merry-go-round. On the side of the carousel toward Cinderella's Castle is the Sword in the Stone. They do a show here. Check your Times Guides.
 
*Mickey's PhilharMagic -- SHOW -- Must See -- Make an effort to see this 3-D, well 4-D since you'll get slightly damp, show. It's in a huge auditorium so don't let the crowds waiting at the door scare you. It's a nice way to cool off and relax.

*Peter Pan's Flight -- fast pass -- DARK-- 2-3 persons per ship. I never really liked the Peter Pan movie. It just didn't do anything for me, so I was hesitant to ride this ride. Do NOT miss this ride. It's one of my favorites! How many times do you fly in a pirate ship over London? The front of the boat slides closed to keep you in place.

*"it's a small world" -- raft ride-- I know, I know, you will have to ride this ride and suffer the brainworm of music for the next few hours. But it's a very happy ride. It makes people smile.

LIBERTY SQUARE

 

 This is a very small walk-thru area on the way to Frontierland, mainly shops and food places.

*Haunted Mansion -- DARK-- scary -- 2-3 people in each doommobile, continuous conveyor with doombuggies. The front of the doommobile closes on you. This can be very scary for little ones. If you have a kid who's afraid of the dark or things jumping out at them, then you might consider missing this ride. The ghosts dancing in the ballroom are fascinating to watch. Be sure to look at the pictures on the walls, ghosts on the chandeliers, etc.

Liberty Square Riverboat -- They were referbing it in Aug. 2013. It takes forever to load and unload and all it does is go around Tom Sawyer's Island. If you're at WDW for the rides, this one ain't what your looking for.

The Hall of Presidents -- SHOW -- True Confessions here. I never saw it. Auditorium setting with animatronic presidents.

FRONTIERLAND

 

 Keep to the right around the small lake.

*Big Thunder Mountain Railroad -- fast pass -- 40" height requirement -- mine train rollercoaster. 2-3 people per row, two rows per car. Three only if you are accompanied by a child. A bouncy, jerky, runaway mine train. A couple of times we rode this while the fireworks were going off--totally magical! It's a fun rollercoaster, much of it outside. Look for hidden Mickey's.

Walt Disney World Railroad Station -- Up the stairs between Big Thunder Mountain and Splash Mountain. 

Tom Sawyer Island -- rafts are poled over to the island. I don't know if there are limits to how many people are on the island, but it tends to take a long time to get over there. It's a great place for kids to run and play and search of treasure. Parents you might want to find a spot to sit and enjoy the break. The only way on and off the island is the raft.

*Splash Mountain -- fast pass -- 40" height requirement --A Lot WET-- three rows of two people fill a log. A lap bar keeps you in place. There are three or four drops. The last drop is the one everyone can see. If they have their water cannons on, then expect to be blasted! 9:15 in the morning is NOT the time to get soaked, just saying. If everyone coming off the ride is drenched, don't expect anything different. . . the right side of the log seems to be the wetter side.

Country Bear Jamboree -- SHOW -- Yeah, never saw it. Can't help you here.

ADVENTURELAND

A Pirate's Adventure - Treasures of the Seven Seas -- search for treasures throughout Adventureland!

*Pirate's of the Caribbean --DARK -- raft ride-- four people per row and about six rows to each boat. A couple of drops, but nothing crazy since you aren't held in by anything except gravity. Remember the movie. Yeah, the Johnny Depp one, they took the story from this ride, then the ride was revamped with Johnny D hiding in the scenery.

Jungle Cruise -- fast pass -- Boat ride. No real seating except around the edges. They take you around the four largest rivers in the world, feeding you cheesy jokes the whole time. It's goofy, but fun, with animatronic animals. Extra fun in the dark. It makes it a little more realistic.

Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room -- SHOW -- A good way of getting out of the Florida heat. The show was revamped when Aladdin came out, 10+ years ago. It needs a little updating, but it's nice to sit down out of the heat.

The Magic Carpets of Aladdin -- think Dumbo ride, but with flying carpets. If I remember correctly there are two rows per carpet, holding 2-3 people per row. Watch out for spitting camels!

Swiss Family Treehouse -- Walk-through .  . . or should I say walk up and down? It's kind of cool to see the home of the Swiss Family Robertson. LOTS of narrow stairs if you have a heart issue or blood pressure issue, or even claustrophobia, don't attempt to climb this. We were there when they shut it down and emergency personnel had to rescue someone.
 
Tinker Bell's Magical Nook -- character meet and greet 

And this wraps up my Walt Disney World tips and tricks. If you have any questions, shoot them my way as I'm always happy to talk about WDW!

Later, Peeps!

Post Vacation Tips and Tricks -- General

Yes, I took a vacation.

Yes, we went back to Florida--Universal and Disney World.

Yes, things are changing--mainly, WDW, but I gleaned a few more pieces of wisdom while on vacation. I'll break the rides and stuff down in a couple other posts.

Ten Tips

1--If it is humanly possible, DO NOT GO TO FLORIDA DURING THE SUMMER! Yes, we had no option since we can't take our kidlet out of school to hit the parks during the off season. Suffice it to say, we were there with all the other parents who have to vacation during a very short window of opportunity during school breaks. . . It almost made this parent want to start homeschooling just to have the option of going at a different time.

2--If you must go during peak season do as I suggested--study the maps, know your families likes and dislikes (don't waste your time standing in line for the Beauty and the Beast show if everyone wants to ride rides), plan your day, park hop if you can. We usually did two parks every day, but did manage three parks one day. Yes, it was tiring, but sometimes you have no choice.

3--Find current maps online. Disney switched up their maps (HATE IT) by printing a map of the park by placing an image of the park with true North at the top of the map, which means you have to figure out where the park entrance is in relation to the maps and work from there. This is instead of previous incarnations of the map where the entrance is at the bottom of the map.

4--Disney also messed with the details of the map. The park looks like an artist's rendering of an aerial picture of the park with numbers on each building. This makes it difficult to figure out a) where you are, b) where you want to go, with out stopping and opening the map to figure out what all the circled numbers are in reference to. Did I mention that I HATE this new map?? And what makes it really bad is that I'm very familiar with the parks and I was very confused looking at these maps! But they never asked my opinion. Sometimes change is just change, and not necessarily for the better!

5--Pick up a Times Guide at every park. If you are at a park over a weekend, get a new Times Guide on Sunday. Yes, sometimes there are drastic changes with rides that are closing for refurbishment, or the night time parades and fireworks will change, or even the park closings. Many times Magic Kingdom was open until Midnight or later, but then when school starts and attendance lags, they close the park earlier. When they have Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween, they will shut the park down, UNLESS you have paid to attend the Halloween Party (you have to get a special wrist band).

6--The earlier you get out of bed to get to the park, the fewer people there are. . . . This is true, BUT remember there are tens of thousands of people in these parks, fewer doesn't mean none, it means less humanity in your near vicinity than there will be when you are wandering around the park at 11:00 AM. Take advantage of the Early Magic Hours if you are staying at a hotel on site. The Extra Magic Hours in the evening aren't as good since everyone from the other parks will converge on the one park with later hours.

7--People will simply stop in the middle of the walkways. Seriously, if you need to have a family consultation pull off to the side.

8--People are rude, clueless, and will use their kids as battering rams. TRUTH. If kids aren't available, they will use electric scooters, empty baby strollers, wheelchairs, or their fat grandma to push through a crowd . . .and into your shins or Achilles tendon depending on which way they are going.

9--Florida is freaking hot in the summer. The temps aren't bad, usually in the lower 90's, it's the 100% humidity that will get you. You will sweat in body places you never thought it humanly possible to sweat. Keep hydrated. Most of our crankiness was due to dehydration.

10--Again, parents please school your children--or husband--to NOT FART IN AN ENCLOSED RIDE. This is just gross and rude. Yes, I'm talking to the kid who let one rip while sitting in the simulator while waiting for the Star Tours ride to start . . . there was a reason Yoda was staring at you!

More info coming this week!

Later, Peeps!

Wally World Tips and Tricks -- Water Parks and Downtown Disney

Like everything Disney there is a story behind every ride/park, and the water parks are no exception.

You can download a map, but it really isn't worth the time or trouble since you won't be carrying one in your pocket while at a water park. Plus there are tons of signs with directions posted everywhere.

Typhoon Lagoon

Typhoon Lagoon is the first water park . . . well, let me rephrase that. They used to have a water park, River Country by Fort Wilderness campground, that was set in the lake . . . erm, health hazards and alligators  moving back into the lake closed it down, which also means the resort 'beaches' are shut down and you will not allow you to wade in the water!

 

Back to Typhoon Lagoon.

 

Out of the two water parks this is my favorite. There are 3 body slides, 3 speed slides, 3 inner tube rides, a surf pool with monster typhoon waves every 15 minutes, a lazy river, a large kiddie area, AND the Crush 'n' Gusher (story--destroyed sugar cane mill).

 

Of course, we head for the Crush 'n' Gusher as soon as we enter the park. There are three different slides to choose from, but basically they are all 'water roller coasters', with jets of water pushing you up the hills.

 

Again, we only hit the water parks for a half day, usually get out of there when it starts getting crowded after lunch.

 

The benefit of going to Typhoon Lagoon vs. Blizzard Beach is that it's virtually right across the street from Downtown Disney. There are tons of shops and restaurants here. The area goes from Disney Quest, a movie theater, Cirque de Soleil on one end, through Pleasure Island (a variety of clubs, including the Adventurers Club is my favorite as the 'heads' come to life), and down to the Marketplace. There are a variety of Disney-oriented type shops (Pooh store) to the Lego store, Ghirardelli chocolate, etc. Take your time wandering through the Marketplace.

 



 Oh, and plan on spending lots and lots of money at this store . . .

It's a monstrous store and you will find tons of things you will desperately 'need'. Just saying.

 

Blizzard Beach

 

Blizzard Beach is closer to Animal Kingdom than any other park, and it looks exactly like you would expect a ski resort to look . . . if it were melting! And that is the theme of the water park--a freak snowstorm hitting Florida.

There is one monster speed slide, 2 smaller speed slides, 2 slides with riding mats (toboggan races--straight and curvy), family raft ride (AWESOME view at the top of the ride), a lazy river (remember: melting ice theme! You have been warned) and a bobbing wave pool (can use inner tubes to float on). There's also a large kiddie area AND one for Pre-teens (For example: walk across floating icebergs using a rope to help balance, body slides for shorter people).

 

 

Hints & Suggestions:

• Water shoes are fine and dandy, EXCEPT you will not be allowed to wear them on any ride--mainly the Crush 'n' Gusher. So don't even bother wasting suitcase room, unless you have itty-bitty kiddos with soft feet.
• The same goes for sunglasses. You have to remove them before going down the slides. We just got to the point of leaving them with our towels at a spot where we parked our stuff.
• There are no elevators/escalators to the tops of the slides. Remember you will have to WALK UP all those freaking steps. You have been warned.
• Both water parks are very unique. If you have time, then visit both of them.
• These two water parks are not the only two in Orlando. Wet and Wild has been featured on Travel Channel's Water Parks for some of their slides, but it doesn't have the 'quaint' themes like Disney.  
• I know you might want to find 'deals' with the various Disney items, but you would be sadly mistaken. There are no deals, unless they are discontinuing an item. If you see it, buy it. No matter where you are, because not every store has every item. Some stores have specific merchandise. For example: the Disney Villains store in Disney Hollywood studios has merchandise you will NOT find anywhere else.

Hope this blog helps!

Tomorrow, I'll be blogging about one of Universal Florida parks.

 

Later, Peeps!

Wally World Tips and Tricks -- Epcot

Here is the map link to Epcot. Again, familiarize yourself with this map. Grab your map and a times guide, right after you pass through the turnstiles, if you want to see anything special as you walk through Epcot.


The symbol of Epcot looks like a giant golf ball, which houses the Spaceship Earth ride. Disney updated this ride a few years ago and it's now narrated by Dame Judi Dench. The ride consists of continual cars. Though there might be a line, be aware that they load the cars right inside the door, so don't let the line scare you away.

Epcot is divided into two parts: Future World and World Showcase.

Future World

I'll start with Future World.

Future World used to be the idea to showcase the future of technology in their buildings. But technology advanced so quickly that they weren't able to keep up, so it's continually evolving.

There are two sides to Future World, when you walk into Epcot, and move past Spaceship Earth, and go to the right through Innovations West you will come out to The Seas, The Land, and Imagination!. Make sure you stop in the Coca-Cola store to sample the Coke products from around the world--it's near the HUGE fountain in the center of the plaza that periodically does a musically choreographed show. Uh, be warned about Beverly from Italy and the one from Japan . . . try it, but be warned  . . .

• The Seas with Nemo and Friends--there's a short ride in a clammobile to the center of the building. There's a monster aquarium, manatees, Turtle Talk with Crush, and a variety of other things to look at.
• The Land -- has Soarin'--GET YOUR FAST PASS! or be prepared to wait in a long line. This ride is like hang gliding over California. And Living with the Land, a boat ride through Disney greenhouses, plus one show called The Circle of Life.
• Imagination! --Figment the dinosaur takes you on a short journey, and Captain Eo--Yes, my friends, Michael Jackson lives again in this show. This area needs some serious updating. Most visitors simply walk past it, so there's never a line.

On the other side of Future world, there is Mouse Gear, the second largest Disney store. The largest Disney store is in Downtown Disney--and I heard they are planning to expand it!

• Ellen's Energy Adventure--it's a dated show, but it keeps you out of the Florida heat for 45 minutes. Just be sure to use the toilet prior to going inside--there are no potty breaks!
• Mission: SPACE -- This is a seriously awesome ride! Don't let the fact there are a gazillion warnings about it. One mission, but two different intensities. Basically, you are in a giant centrifuge and are spun around, BUT don't let this scare you because you don't feel the spinning as much as you feel the pressure and weightlessness of space. I've ridden in both, more intense and less intense, and you don't lose any sense of the ride when you ride the less intense one . . . plus the line is usually not at long! My hubs tends to become disoriented with spinning rides, but the less intense one didn't bother him.
• Test Track -- I loved Test Track before they updated it, and haven't ridden it since they changed it last year. I hope it's still as much fun!

World Showcase

I love World Showcase! You can drink your way around the world, or play along with Agent P's World Showcase Adventures. If you don't know who Agent P is, then you need to watch more TV!

I will confess that I tried drinking my way around the world . . . I could only drink a beer from two countries before I was too full to continue!  I split my beers now with my hubs, and still can't manage more than  a couple of countries! We tend to eat at different sit down restaurants in the World Showcase, which means we've eaten at every restaurant, many of them more than once!

For the most part the countries are restaurants, stores and maybe a ride. Noshing away through the lands is a great way to try food from other countries. Many of the sit down restaurants require reservations if you plan to eat there during the premium hours of 5 PM - 8 PM.

Several countries have small demonstrations throughout the day.
For example: acrobats from China, or Taiko drums in Japan
Show times are posted on the Times Guide that you can pick up in addition to the map, which you can pick up after the turnstile.
Clockwise, the countries are:

• Mexico -- There are two sit down restaurants: one inside the Mayan pyramid--San Angel Inn, and the other on the lake--La Hacienda, plus one counter service. We've eaten at both restaurants, and the food is yummy! La Hacienda has a tilapia dish that I literally want to lick my plate after eating! The ride is a very slow boat ride through the different parts of Mexico. It's a good way to kill some time while waiting on a table. There are also a variety of shops inside the pyramid.
• Norway -- has one restaurant. It's 'family-style', in that dishes are brought to the table and everyone shares. The Akershus restaurant had a tough time attracting visitors--something about the pickled herring, I guess--that they made it a character dining restaurant. There are princesses galore here! We ate an early breakfast (before the park opened) and it was the only time you could see the park empty and take some great pictures! The ride is the Malstrom, and it's a fun boat ride through troll country, with one or two small drops. Of course there is the obligatory film about Norway after the ride, but you can walk right through it if you want to miss it. The store is fun, and I buy my perfume here--it's called Laila.
• China -- I love watching the Reflections of China. This is a 360 movie that takes you across China. It's a standing movie, but rails are provided to lean against since it can be disorienting. They also have a miniaturized version of the Terra Cotta Warriors exhibit definitely worth looking at. The store is massive, take your time after the movie to wonder through. There are two restaurants. The Nine Dragons is a nice sit down restaurant and there is a counter service one with some fast food. Both are good, but not great.
• The Outpost -- has some Animal Kingdom type items and some wood carvers. This area covers the bridges which open to allow the Illuminations of Earth fireworks boats into the lagoon.
• Germany -- Sorry, no rides/shows in Germany . . . well, actually the Biergarten is the show. The sit down dining is a buffet with a variety of German foods, along with huge steins of beer. The tables are long tables where you better become comfortable sharing it with people who you don't know. The tables are on tiers circling around a stage, where there is music, dancing or whatever. It's a fun experience, but not to everyone's tastes. If you want a bratwurst and a beer, then simply hit the counter service at the entrance to the Biergarten. There are numerous shops to visit--make a point to go into the toy store. On your way to Italy, there is a miniature outdoor train with town and countryside for viewing.
• Italy -- Three restaurants, but we've only eaten at Tutto Italia. They change the menu quite often, so it's different every time we eat there. Sometimes it's good, sometimes just 'meh'. Though the store is chocked full of perfume and a little Murano glass, we don't stay too long because of the overpowering fragrance . . .and slightly superior attitude. Sorry, but they're worse than the France pavilion! The other side of the plaza has another store with Venetian masks--I love browsing here.
• America -- True confessions here . . . we usually just walk right past this pavilion. Unless we stop to get a beer--Sam Adams. Never saw the show. The main reason is that it's simply too long. Moving right along . . .
• Japan -- Make a point of catching the Taiko drum show. It's held outside on the steps of the Shinto temple. The store is HUGE with tons of Hello Kitty stuff and toys for boys, while the ladies can have pearls pulled from the oysters and mounted, or you can eat some totally bizarro Japanese candy. Sometimes you find something . . . interesting. The last time we were at the Japan Pavilion, we toured a tin toy exhibit, which featured toys from the past 100 years. There are two sit down places to eat: Teppan Edo--the chef entertains and cooks your food on the flat top at your table, and Tokyo Dining -- sushi, tempura (never ate there), plus a counter service place.
• Morocco -- You can get lost in the maze of shops dotting the Morocco Pavilion. We've eaten numerous times at Marrakesh. The food is good and if you time it right, you will be entertained by a belly dancer--if you are near the stage, she'll pull little kids up to dance with her.
• France -- I enjoyed the Impressions de France film--not as much as the China one, but it's nice. There are two restaurants: Chefs de France and Bistro de Paris. Chefs is cheaper, but more crowded than Bistro. The same group of chefs own both restaurants, so the quality is similar. There is also a pastry shop--Boulangerie Patisserie--where we tend to load up prior to watching the fireworks. There are a few nice shops to wander through.
• International Gateway -- after you leave France you cross a bridge: to the right takes you to the United Kingdom, while turning left exits the park where  you can walk to the Boardwalk, the Swan and Dolphin hotels (turn left after you exit the park) or The Yacht and Beach Club resorts (continue straight).
• United Kingdom -- The Rose and Crown Pub is the main restaurant. Again, if you time it right, you can sit outside and watch Illuminations. When the kidlet was three, we were at the right place at the right time for the kidlet to 'start' the show with a wave of her magic wand . . . too bad that was before cameras on phones because we left our camera at the hotel. That will have to remain in our memories -- right up there with the hubs getting dragged up on stage during the Spirit of Aloha dinner show during our honeymoon. You should have seen the man dancing in a grass skirt! The various stores have changed over the years, and not necessarily for the best. I, personally, don't see the point of all the Beatles 'stuff', but that's simply a personal observation.
• Canada -- Canada's show is a standing movie in 360 degrees, nice, but doesn't seem as impressive as China. The whole of the Canadian pavilion is a shoutout to various sights in Canada, for example, the Butchart Gardens, though impressive is roughly only 1% of the real gardens on Vancouver Island. Yep, I've walked through them. The only restaurant is Le Cellier. If you want to have some of the best steak you ever ate, then you need to make reservations--make them three months in advance, if you can. You might have to settle for a late lunch or an early dinner.

Okay, so you have wee little tykes and they are bored to freaking tears by mommy wanting to shop in all the stores. So what do you do?

Well, there are two options.

1. If they are itty-bitty kiddos, there is the Kidcot area in each country. The child is given a 'mask' with a long wooden handle. The child can decorate the mask, and at each Kidcot location, they stamp the handle with a Disney country stamp, add a fob that symbolizes that country, and some of the countries will spell the child's name on the back--It's fun to see the symbols for your child's name in Chinese, Japanese or Arabic!
2. If your kiddo is a little older, or you want to do this, you can register at various locations as a secret agent for Agent P. With the use of a FONE (field operative notification equipment), you will follow the clues given to you. When have tracked the clue down, many times you will be told to press a 'trigger' on the phone, activating 'something'. When you follow all the clues you can turn your phone in at various points along the way, or do another adventure. Even if you choose not to do the adventure--WATCH someone else, because you will see some fun stuff happening in each country! Check out Dr. Doofenshmirtz in the picture.  

 And then there's Illumination, Epcot's nighttime extravaganza. A choreographed show with lasers, video, fireworks and dancing water, accompanying a beautiful narration.

This is a MUST SEE!

 

And that's it for today!

 

Later, Peeps! 

Wally World Tips and Tricks -- Animal Kingdom

Alrighty then . . .

Here's the link to the Animal Kingdom map. Use it wisely and memorize the details. . . . you will be quizzed later.

The Animal Kingdom has the Tree of Life in the center of the park. The Tree is the icon for the park, plus it houses the "IT'S TOUGH TO BE A BUG" show. The tree's trunk is composed of various animals, reptiles and dinosaurs. Spend time before the show to take it all in, as you walk along the path to the queuing area, you will see many, many critters.

Again, my experience has been that this park doesn't take a full day to enjoy, of course, depending on the time of year and the crowd levels. Some critics have called the Animal Kingdom a 'glorified zoo'.

Well . . . yes and no.

True, it has numerous animals from various parts of the world, but Disney has also taken it to the next level. Spend some time on the various trails, enjoying the animals from different parts of the world. Also, take the time to ride Kilimanjaro Safaris, which showcases the land and animals of Africa, but there are very few rides for a park this size.

Currently, the main parts of the Animal Kingdom are Africa, Asia and Dinoland USA.

Africa offers one ride--Kilimanjaro Safaris

Asia offers -- Expedition Everest (roller coaster) looks scary, but it's totally fun! Make a point of waiting in the regular line, the Fast Pass line AND the singles line. The first two lines take you through different areas of the pre-ride 'show', and the singles line . . . well, you can ride it numerous times! And Kali River Rapids (WET! you WILL get soaked.  raft ride). As I've said before, I'm not a fan of wet rides unless they're in a water park.

DinoLand --DINOSAUR (trip to the past), Primeval Whirl (spinning coaster), and the only kiddie ride in the park, TriceraTop Spin (think Dumbo). Finding Nemo the show is very cool.

Minor areas include:

Discovery Island --IT'S TOUGH TO BE A BUG SHOW
Camp Minnie-Mickey--character meet and greets, and Festival of the Lion King show.
Rafiki's Planet Watch -- Sloooow train to the Conservation station. Some fun stuff, including a petting zoo, but once was more than enough for this family.

The reason I don't think this is a very kid-friendly park is simply because most of the rides have a height requirement, which leave most of the little tykes out in the cold, ride-wise that is.

So if you have little tykes, I would focus on the zoo aspect of the Animal Kingdom, or the character meet and greets. They can see the three big shows: It's Tough to be a Bug, Finding Nemo and Lion King, but Bug is dark and there are a few scary moments in it . . . for adults as well as the wee ones!

Food:
There are tons of places to eat, counter service and table service. Just pick your poison. We usually eat at Pizzafari (great chicken Caesar salads!) or Yak and Yeti.

As I mentioned in another blog post, there are some parks we tend to drive our car, and Animal Kingdom is one of them. We don't bother to stick around for the parade and there are no fireworks--animals, yanno. And after walking throughout the park, we usually don't want to wait for a bus. We did it once or twice and that was more than enough times! Your choice.

That's all I have for this park.

Later, Peeps!

Wally World Tips and Tricks -- Disney's Hollywood Studios

Here's a link to the 2013 Disney Hollywood Studios map. This map can be found in all it's glory after you pass through the turnstiles. They are in various moveable holders, so you can miss them, but you can find maps in the locker rental place, which is the circular building in the center of the road as you enter the park. Again, familiarize yourself with the layout prior to going to the park.

For some reason, I always find this park excessively hot. It might be all the cement and open design. Throughout the day, street actors will be going through their routines at various locations on the streets. Never watched the parade here. It just didn't seem interesting to me.

To be totally truthful, we ride the rides at the Hollywood Studios and vamoose out of there right after lunch. But if you like watching the shows, then you need to plan a long day ahead of you. Many of the shows are 45 minutes to an hour long, and that doesn't include the queuing time. Shoot, some of the rides are very time-consuming, especially the Back Lot Tour and The Great Movie ride.

If you take a right at the first intersection, it will take you past the entrance to the nighttime spectacular -- Fantasmic ( make time to see this show--yes, you have to get in line early unless you do a meal deal to get 'priority' seats), past the Beauty and the Beast stage, to Rock n' Roller Coaster with Aerosmith--it's a dark coaster with twists and loops, and Tower of Terror.

Fast Passes are offered at Rock n' Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror. If you get a fast pass, you will NOT miss anything in the pre-ride lines. Sometimes Rock n' Roller Coaster has the Singles line open. So keep that in mind if you don't mind not sitting with your family. I'd suggest riding once with the family and then hitting the singles line.

As you walk back toward the Sorcerer's Hat and then turn right again, you'll enter the Animation courtyard. In here, you can watch animators working on the next movie, Disney Junior show, and the Voyage of the Little Mermaid show--this is a MUST see, though it's dark and Ursula gets big and scary, so be prepared. A little farther to the left is Pixar Place with the Toy Story Midway Mania ride. GET A FAST PASS, but check the return time! This is one ride that you need to wait in the long queue line to see the full effects of the ride. It's totally worth it!

I'm a fan of Muppet Vision 3-D. Sorry, but it probably reflects my age, but I do enjoy the show. And the new Star Tours is a do not miss. For pre-teens, there is a Jedi Training show, to the left of the Star Tours entrance, that boys and girls might enjoy participating in. Every time you go on the ride, the show is random. So try to ride it multiple times. Indiana Jones is good and reflects the Raiders of the Lost Ark movie. Lights, Motors, Action Stunt show is okay, but I'm not a car fan, so I was 'meh' about the show.

And that's it in a nutshell, I will admit that we don't do very many of the shows and I don't know a whole lot about them. The Great Movie Ride and the Backlot Tour ride, we do occasionally . . . about once every 4-5 years. It's not one of the rides we really enjoy, since we are fans of the Tower of Terror elevator drop (multiple drops, and different every time!), and the rollercoaster.

Personally, I don't see this park as very 'kid-friendly'. It has a few things that might entertain the kiddos, but not for an extended period of time.

Here's my quick glance spreadsheet notes. Verify this information on site, the shows have changed since I typed this up:

Tower of Terror FP D SO 40"

Rockin' Roller Coaster D FP SO 48"

The Great Movie Ride D SC

Star Tours FP SO 40"

Sounds Dangerous

Indian Jones Epic Stunt FP

Beauty and the Beast

Voyage of the Little Mermaid FP

MuppetVision 3D FP

Extreme Stunt Show

Honey, I Shrunk the Kids-Playground

Playhouse Disney Onstage

Backlot Tour SC

Who wants to be a Millionaire FP

One Man's Dream

Magic of Disney Animation

D--Dark

MS--Motion Sickness

FP---Fast Pass

SO---Switching off option

SC---Scary

Must sees, in my opinion, are:

• Tower of Terror
• Rock n' Roller coaster (singles line)
• Beauty and the Beast show
• Voyage of the Little Mermaid show
• Toy Story Midway Mania (your arms will feel like they are falling off afterwards!)
• Star Tours
• Muppet Vision 3-D
• Fantasmic--night time spectacular--totally awesome!!

Food-wise, again, I hate to say it, but there's nothing spectacular here. Oh, the Sci- Fi Drive In movie experience is fun, but the food is okay. We tend to eat at Pizza Planet--with a personal pizza , you also get a small salad. What a great meal deal!

And that's Disney Hollywood Studios in a nutshell.

Later, Peeps!

Skiing bytes

Okay, I really didn't know what to name this blog, but I thought this was a cute play on words. I'll be posting the last of my skiing blogs today with a hodge-podge of 'stuff'.

Altitude: Yes, there is a very real thing called altitude sickness. You can get it when you drive or fly from a lower altitude to stay at a higher altitude. It can involve headaches, fatigue, sleeplessness, intestinal upset and a tough time breathing. One of the main factors going into this is the thin air. There simply is less oxygen higher up.

There are a couple of tricks to fighting this: drinks LOTS of water, take aspirin (preferably one with caffeine in it, like Excedrin), and TUMS with calcium. Many years ago, we chatted with a waitress who told us to start this process on the drive into the mountains . . . and it works. It doesn't mean you won't be short of breath, but it might shorten the duration of difficulty. And some places have an oxygen bar, but I've never tried one. If I did, the mountains would be the place to do it!

Dryness: Even with all the snow around you, you will suffer from the horrible dryness. If your condo or hotel room has a humidifier--USE IT. This will help you breath along with decreasing the nasal congestion and inflammation. Moisturizer is your best friend--use it.

Expansion: Have you ever exploded a chip bag when driving in the mountains? We have. We had an unopened bag of chips in the car and when we passed through Denver into the mountains--it exploded. Okay, it was a really big pop, but it surprised us. So the higher you go in altitude--stuff expands. You've seen this with your bathroom stuff when you've flown someplace. Open your moisturizer and it goes all over the place. The key here is to REMOVE all the air possible when you pack your stuff. But sometimes you can't do that, so be prepared.

On a side note: As you know, stuff expands in the mountains, well, my friends, so does the stuff in your intestinal tract. You might experience an uncomfortable abdominal  with an increase in flatulence. This is actually normal . . . disgusting, but normal. Disgusting when your kid is constantly farting in the car, and yet, denying all or blaming it on the stockyards in Kansas. Own up to it and let us roll down the window, please. Sometimes the stockyards smell better than the eau de kid in the car.

Cost: Skiing isn't cheap, but it doesn't have to be expensive either. Here are a few options to think about:
--the more popular ski areas = more expensive. Vail, Aspen, etc will be more expensive overall than the lesser known ski resorts.
--the closer to the mountain = more expensive. If you don't mind taking a shuttle or driving then you can save $$. But sometimes driving comes with a cost to park--Vail and Breckenridge, but in Keystone it's free.
--get a condo and make your own meals. It's cheaper than buying food on the mountain.
For example: three of us split two meals:
1 large chicken pot pie
1 order chicken tenders (3) with fries
3 drinks (soda, coffee, hot cocoa)
= $43

Deals: Look for deals. This year was kids ski free at Keystone. This saved us about $65/day of skiing. The day we skied Vail, the kidlet's ticket cost $86. Some places have combination deals with rentals and lift tickets, or rentals, tickets AND lessons. In the long run, this is the way to do it. Some people will rent their stuff in Denver, but you have to haul the ungainly equipment to your ski condo . . . what a pain in the tookus. We simply rent at the resort. Plus many years ago we bought our own boots. This was a huge expenditure at the time, but it was at the end of the season and they paid for themselves many times over. Besides . . . you don't have to put your feet where others have shoved their stinky ones before you, AND the boot is molded to your foot.

Lessons: If you have never skied before, budget a half-day lesson EVERY DAY you are skiing. In the long run this is worth every penny you spend. Don't listen to your buddy who says, "Don't worry, dude, I'll teach you" because said buddy will get bored with you falling down and abandon you on the ski slope to figure it out on your own. Plus you want to learn the correct way, right? Fork over the $$ and have fun.

We met one young lady on the slope --during night skiing at Keystone--who never skied before. Her 'friend' took her up to the top of Schoolmarm and abandoned her. She wasn't wearing goggles and wondered about the quickest and easiest way down . . . Well, my friends, Schoolmarm IS the easiest way down, but it's nearly 4 MILES of traversing the mountain to get to the bottom. Plus at night. Night skiing is more about skiing by 'feel' than visually skiing, and yes, it's more difficult. Friends do not do this to you. Jus' sayin'.

Preparation:  Unless you've skied before, your muscles won't be prepared to ski as you don't normally use these muscles quite in this manner. The only thing that I've found to work is to exercise/tighten all your muscles around your knees. The easiest way to do this is to flatten your back against a wall and slowly squat down--now hold this position. Yeah, not as easy as you thought, right. Repeat this numerous times a day for a couple of weeks and you might not die on the first day of skiing.

Terrain: I'm a fan of steep slopes, not moguls, just steeps. I like skiing blues and groomed black slopes. But the key word is GROOMED. There's nothing like the sound of your skies squeaking across fresh corduroy stripes the groomers leave behind. But you don't always have that luxury. Sometimes you have fresh snow--one to three inches is awesome . . . until a bunch of people get on it and then leave piles of fluff you have to traverse. REMEMBER to keep your weight in your heels, not forward on your toes! Too much snow makes hard work on your quads and knees. Ice is tough on the knees, but it's also a mental game when you hear the scraping as you slide--basically out of control--into a snowy section that will grab your skis. Spring skiing also brings a challenge when the slopes warm up enough the snow starts to granulate and it's like trying to ski across a sandy beach. Ugh! I hate that. Talk about sweating!

And here are my last little tidbits:

--When you're tired take a rest break. If you don't then this is where many people get hurt, by pushing themselves.
--wear sunscreen. Remember, you are closer to the sun and the air is thinner. The chance of getting a burn is increased.
--buy a pair of good goggles. Wear them when it's cloudy, for night skiing, and when it's really cold. I like the yellow tint on mine to help define the terrain, but you need to try different ones to see what works for you.
--sunglasses that wrap around your eyes for those beautiful, sunny days  . . . though we didn't have one of those this time around.
--wear layers of clothing. You can always take something off if you get hot.
--foot warmers are okay for some people. They help keep your toes warm, especially on snowy days, but they pressed on a nerve in my right foot nearly crippling me the rest of the day. I just dealt with the cold toes.
--curl your cold fingers into your palm to warm them up while on the lift. This helps. Trust me.
--get a lift map ASAP and learn the mountain, plan your next move before you and your party head down the mountain. That way if you get separated or someone falls, you know where to wait for them.
--if you see a special needs skier and their guides on the trail--give them a wide berth. This is just courtesy--and yes, so is staying away from the obvious beginners on the trails. They are the ones with their skis in a wedge shape and a death grip on their poles as they hunch over in expectation of falling.

That's all I have for now.

Later, peeps!