Sue's 4th of July SSR Trip - Day 1 of 4

[wdw1972]

DAY 1 – Thursday 7/3/08
Who: Sue (49), DVC member

Plan: Work, Dental Appt, Drive to WDW, Puck’s Express, Comedy Warehouse

Actual: I started this trip with a dental appointment, but thanks to a mistake by the dental office my appointment ended up being almost 2 hours earlier than usual. I wasn’t too upset, as it just means I get to WDW earlier and have more time for this trip! Since I wasn’t sure my studio would be ready if I arrived at 2:10 I made a detour to Premium Outlets to check out Character Premiere. Doing so reminded me that last time I swore I’d never do that again, as it’s just a nightmare getting out of there during the middle of the day!

There was nothing I needed for anyone at Character Premiere, and it was too hot & crowded to browse through the other shops. I had parked in the parking garage, so I walked back over there and began the slow drive to WDW. The road handling this outlet mall is too inadequate for the # of cars on it each day. If you’re returning to WDW property you’ll have a long wait at the traffic light – today I ended up turning left and then making a legal u-turn further up the street. I believe that was quite a bit faster than if I’d stayed in line waiting to turn right.

SB called just as I got near Saratoga Springs, and I just had to laugh at his timing. The first time he called I was looking for a rest area so I could take restroom break and get something out of the trunk. Just after he called, I missed the exit – trapped by a huge semi truck. The 2nd time he called I was just pulling off at the next rest stop. Now the 3rd time was just as I needed to be off the phone to deal with the security person at Saratoga.

The security person didn’t even want to see my photo id, which didn’t bother me at all. I honestly don’t see a need for this “security” at the resorts, unless perhaps the resort is walking distance to a park & they’re trying to discourage parking cheaters. I went to the Carriage House to check in and found several cast members with no guests waiting. It’s so nice having no wait at all!

I’d requested Congress Park, and that’s what I was booked into, but it was not ready (it was almost 3pm). Nothing else was ready in Congress Park, but there was a room in the Springs. I should have just waited, but my cooler had come open in the trunk and I was concerned the little bottle of chocolate milk would spoil. I know – a stupid $1.39 bottle of milk made me take a much less desirable room! I’m up on the 3rd floor, which is nice. I’m also very close (just across the street) from the main pool & main building. However, I prefer the quiet pools and there’s not one near here. I’ll also miss the fireworks unless I walk over to Congress Park. It’ll also be a longer walk to Downtown Disney, but I always say walking won’t kill me so I really shouldn’t whine about that <g>. My balcony has a lovely view of the parking lot and the back of the bus stop – so I guess I won’t spend much time out there. Oh well, what’s done is done – time to get on with relaxing and being happy to be here!

It took just a few minutes to get settled in, and I got online while watching General Hospital. At 4 I decided it was time to eat, since I hadn’t had lunch except for some granola bark I’d eaten in the car (yummy stuff from Publix – pecans, pumpkin seeds, cranberries, sesame seeds, almonds, mini choc chips & possibly raisins all held together like a granola bar – expensive but good).

I discovered it’s quite a long walk to Downtown Disney from the Springs, lol! I may not have taken the most efficient route, but even a shorter walk would have been long. I had the bright idea to change into my crocs since it looked like it could rain at any moment and I figured wet sneakers are no fun and it’s insane to consider driving to the Marketplace after about 9:15 am! For my trouble I got a blister on the top of each foot. I don’t know who these people are who rave about crocs but they kill me every time! They’re ok with socks, but I won’t wear socks with crocs if I’m wearing shorts!

Once I got to Downtown Disney I went directly to Wolfgang Puck Express at the Marketplace. Since it was just a little after 4, it wasn’t very busy. I had a glass of the 41 Hands Riesling, the side Caesar, and tortilla soup. With the dvc discount it was $16 and change. I ate on the porch outside since it wasn’t overly hot, and enjoyed the meal. The wine is a generous pour, and I finished that quite a while after finishing the food. It was getting busier when I left, but it still wasn’t full.

I trudged back to Saratoga Springs. It still hadn’t rained – of course. If I’d left my sneakers on, the sidewalks would be flooded by now <g>. Out of consideration for my new blisters I stopped at the Congress Park bus stop and caught the next bus, getting off at the Springs since it’s the next stop. I made a detour to Artist Palate and picked up a yogurt parfait and brownie for later in the trip. I like that they honor the DDE here even though there’s a full service restaurant.

Back in the room I just relaxed for a while and listened to the first part of SB’s game. It ended up not raining at all, which surprised me. Hopefully it won’t rain while I’m out. A little after 7 I decided to try walking the path that comes in on the West Side end of Downtown Disney. You can pick it up outside the Turf Club, near the boat dock. Walk over the bridge that crosses the water and take a left. The nice wide paved path goes beyond the golf course and right into the West Side. It’s not a short walk, but it’s an easy one since you’re not dodging a zillion other people! Well, not until you get to the West Side <g>.

The walk took about 15 minutes or so, which wasn’t too bad at all. The West Side was very busy, and when I got to Pleasure Island I noticed the Adventurer’s Club looked pretty dark (at 7:30). I didn’t think anything of it just yet. I walked over to the Marketplace and got a sample at Ghiradelli, but will make my purchase on Sunday before I head home. Coming back to Pleasure I tried to enter the Adventurer’s Club but found the door locked. So, I had to go to Comedy Warehouse to get my wrist band.

to be continued...

[wdw1972]

continued...


I met up with Larry & Phyllis (local regulars) and they told me Adventurer’s Club now opens at 8pm. I used to enjoy sitting in there waiting for it to be time for Comedy Warehouse! I realize that’s not why they’re in business, but it worked for me (& Leesa) – especially when it was raining, too hot, or too cold. We passed the time sharing our thoughts on the unbelievably bad decision to close all of the clubs on Pleasure Island. Disney spent a lot of money renovating part of PI last year, and since so much of that newly renovated space has never opened I imagine they knew back then that they’d be closing the place. It’s so frustrating to be losing Comedy Warehouse.

Tonight Jamie was on the keys. The 8:00 cast was John, Mary, Krista, Brian & Christine. They opened with a poem called “Mrs. Brown killed my cat”. John & Christine did a Fill in the Blank scene set in a flower shop. Next Mary took the lead creating a song about ipods, and the others would take turns tapping the person at the microphone and replacing them to continue the song. I hadn’t seen this before, and I liked it.

They created a series of scenes where there were always 2 actors in the scene, each actor was the same character each time, but when an actor tags out another to replace him the scene jumps forward. Brian & Mary started it as a couple who just received word their son had been accepted at an ivy league school. It was very funny, and the plan to pay for it was to kill grandma (Krista). Unfortunately I missed part of it, as my phone rang buried in my bag, then rang again. I don’t think anyone around me heard it, but I did! It was SB, so I went up to the restroom since the only place I can get & keep a signal there is in the handicapped stall while I lean into the window <g>. He was in a rain delay and forgot I was at the show!

Up Your Alley was next, hosted by John as something Witherspoon. Up yours, witherspoon <g>. The topic was teenagers. Krista was a 15 year old named Amanda who goes by Chakra and had all the obnoxious entitlement teen attitude. Mary was Miss Manners for teenagers and teaches etiquette for teens. Brian was hysterical as a Rear Admiral who runs a boot camp for teens. There was a group of teens down in the front row, and he kept laying down on the stage and shouting into their faces about various things. It was a riot! After the show they got their picture taken with the cast – what great memories for them.

Overall it was a good show, and a pretty good sized crowd for the first one of the night. Between shows I visited with Mary, and then it was time for show #2. The 9:10 cast was Mary, Krista, John, Christine & Matt. This audience was quite a bit bigger, and there were a lot of people there for the first time. Good thing they came now instead of 3 months from now! Oh, but then they can go shopping.

They did Point Counter Point, where 2 actors debate opposing sides of a topic. Tonight it was John & Christine, and Matt was the moderator. The topics were gas prices, giraffe, tater mitts, bare hands & buildings. They did an excellent job – the best I’ve seen of this structure so far! Next Krista was a dead person in the morgue, Matt was the worker, and Mary came in thinking she was identifying her sister’s body. Matt & Mary started the scene, then had to reverse it, go forward & go further, reverse it again, etc. Once they finished the scene they had to do it in reverse all the way to the beginning. I can’t imagine being able to remember all of that! And Matt – how rare for a man to be able to remember anything that happened more than 10 seconds prior, lol!

The rest of the show was Disney’s newest musical, led by Christine. The main character was John as Joey the kangaroo frog. He was born in France but raised in Australia and was trying to get a visa to enter the US from Matt. Matt refused, but then since Bill Cosby was in a coma someone was needed to eat all the jello Cosby wasn’t able to eat so he would give John a visa if he ate the jello. Somehow John got hurt but without insurance the doctor at the ER wouldn’t help him. Then Matt adopted him, he got treatment and got engaged to the doctor (Krista). It was a cute musical, and a very good show.

I chatted with folks briefly after the show, then headed back to Saratoga Springs for the night. Once again I took the path along the West Side, and never saw another person the entire way (and no wildlife, thank goodness). Back in the studio I just missed the end of SB’s game, but the Comedy Warehouse was definitely more fun <g>. I ate the yogurt parfait and finished up the report, pausing to talk to SB when he called. He’s got a long bus ride ahead of him, but that’s the glamorous baseball life. I on the other hand am already in bed in my lovely Disney resort and don’t have to work for another 3 days – lucky me!

Today was a nice start to the trip. I do wish my Congress Park studio was ready when I arrived since I’ll be going over to Downtown Disney so much, but that’s a minor inconvenience. My Springs location is actually much better for going to the gym and the main building, and I might even try the main pool tomorrow since it’s so close. I’ve not heard any noise at all from the buses, which surprises me. At Old Key West there’s a lot of bus noise, so maybe these buildings are built better? We never did get any rain, which is another good thing. My dinner at Puck’s was very good, and Comedy Warehouse was wonderful.

I don’t know if I’ll get everything done tomorrow that I’m thinking of, but if so – I’ll have breakfast at Downtown Disney, spend time at the pool, go to the gym, late lunch at Fulton’s, listen to SB’s 4pm game, 1st 2 Comedy Warehouse shows, then 10:30 Downtown Disney fireworks! So much for relaxing <g>.

[bavaria]

I really enjoy that path that goes to Westside - it gets a lot of use from me!

Odd that you don't have much bus noise - I swear that I had that same room and it was absolutely horrible to hear the busses day and night. (That was the stay when I ran screaming from OKW after two days of being on the bus loop, only to find that SSR was little better that stay, noisewise. My favourite rooms are the ones in Congress Park, or the back side of Grandstand because I find that both those sections are much quieter)

[disneyfreak89]

Sorry to hear about your blister. That's the very reason I won't invest in Crocs because I'm almost CERTAIN

I would get a blister if I wore them. :sosad:

Enjoying your leisurely TR.

Looking forward to your lunch at Fultons tomorrow. That's one of the things we'd like to try on our next trip.