idratherbeinwdw
05-12-2006, 05:36 PM
Well I can never top CB's report, so I won't try. She already described the wonderful Maragarita Party at Jigger's and the great night at Jellyrolls she and I spent with Pam. So I am just going to tell you about 2unique aspects of my trip, and then I'll link you up to my photos so you can see for yourself what I did.
First: I had lunch with an imagineer on Wednesday, 5/3. I was really excited about this, as I had heard only really great things about it. Well, unfortunately, I was very disappointed. The lunch takes place in a private room at the Brown Derby. The room was lovely, no complaints there. There were 7 other people at the luncheon, all very friendly. The imagineer came in, her name was Pam Rawlins. She welcomed us and told us a bit about herself. Biggest letdown to me was she was not (at least in my mind) an imagineer. She supervises imagineers and their projects, but she herself is not a creative talent. I honestly can't think of one thing she said that was interesting, much less awesome. She really had the "suit" mentality of "I can't answer that" to many of our questions. All she discussed I have read elsewhere. In fact I knew a number of things she didn't, including the info about Mission Space possibly having the option of a no g-force ride. When we talked about Hidden Mickeys she stated flatly "They are never built into the rides". When I mentioned a number of Mickeys (ie the one in the french horn in Philharmagic) she said I was imagining them!! Ugh, I really didn't like her. She seemed more interested in telling us how she moved up in the company then sharing any inside or behind the scenes info.
The food was fabulous, with a yummy creme brulee desserr, and actually the other people at the table were very interesting, including two BWV DVC people. So it wasn't a total loss. They give you a very cool looking oversized plate with sorcerer Mickey that says I dined with an Imagineer (which Pam signed, but I wish she didn't LOL). Oh and we all got cute WDW nametags. I would do this again if I knew I would get a different imagineer, but as there is no guarantee who you get I doubt I will try again any time too soon.
Second: This is my highlight, although if you don't know or like Off Kilter (OK) it will mean nothing to you. As everyone here who reads my posts knows, I am a big Off Kilter fan. They are a celtic rock band who dress in kilts and play on the stage next to the Canadian Pavilion in Epcot. I have seen them so many times they recognize me, and I've posed for a few group shots with them (see my avatar). They are superb musicians as well as very funny and nice guys, always waving and smiling to the crowd and willing to pose for photos or sign cds after their shows. My favorite OK member is the bass player, Mark, as he's got a fabulous voice. The notes he can hit are awesome, to hear him sing Danny Boy (or anything else) is music to my ears (pun intended!). He's also a cutie. Married, but still, I can look, can't I? :) Anyhow I read that in the evenings he sits in with a band at Raglan Rd (RR)in DTD. I was really curious to see him with another band, and to see what he looked like in normal clothes instead of a kilt. After the first OK show on Sunday I asked him when he'd be at RR that week. He told me Weds and Thurs. Weds was Jellyrolls night with Pam and Linda (aka matysgranma and colorado belle. Boy did I love that, it's a must do for me from now on), so on Thursday night I hopped on the bus to DTD. Had a 10:30 ressie at RR, as I knew he didn't get onstage until about then. I arrived and it turned out I didn't need the ressie, the place was really slow that night. They told me to sit where I wanted to, so I took a seat at a table rightin front of the stage. The band was playing traditional Irish music, Mark had not arrived yet. A few minutes later I saw him walk in. I ordered dinner (btw I loved the food there) and waited. He joined the band after about 10 minutes and when he saw me smiled and waved hi. He had on jeans and a tshirt, it was so different than the OK costume, it was neat to see him in regular clothing after all these years. (nothing against kilts, but imho men look more like men in pants). The band was fine, but not as good as OK. OK has played together for many years and sound so tight. These guys were fine, but a bit sloppier, and I didn't care that much for the lead singer. Mark is the lead for OK, but he only plays bass with the RR band. Anyway they did one set and much to my happy surprise Mark came to my table and spent his entire break with me. I was so flustered, but I hope it didn't show. Hanging out with Mark was the equivalent to me of hanging out with Bruce Springsteen, I am such a fan! When it was time to go back onstage he said "I'll come back next break" and sure enough he did. So I got to hang out with his Markness twice in one night, woohoo! By then it was 1AM and my friend was going to visit me the next day early, so when he got up to do the next set I said I had to be going. But could he please take a pic with me first? He was happy to oblige, and here are we are!:
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a221/idratherbeinwdw/IMG_1203.jpg
(Yeah he's tall! I am 5'6''. Mark is 6'6'')
I take way too many photos(, believe it or not I edited out many), but here is a link to the shots I took this trip if anyone wants to check em out. The guy at the begining is Gary Puckett, who I thought did a great job. And somewhere in there are shots of the Margarita party and the great view from Jigger's balcony:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/idratherbeinwdw/album?.dir=7b84re2&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/ph//my_photos (http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/idratherbeinwdw/album?.dir=7b84re2&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/ph//my_photos)
It was so great to meet all the mouseowners at Jigger's and to be one of the Boardwalk Babes. Thanks for a memorable trip everyone!
First: I had lunch with an imagineer on Wednesday, 5/3. I was really excited about this, as I had heard only really great things about it. Well, unfortunately, I was very disappointed. The lunch takes place in a private room at the Brown Derby. The room was lovely, no complaints there. There were 7 other people at the luncheon, all very friendly. The imagineer came in, her name was Pam Rawlins. She welcomed us and told us a bit about herself. Biggest letdown to me was she was not (at least in my mind) an imagineer. She supervises imagineers and their projects, but she herself is not a creative talent. I honestly can't think of one thing she said that was interesting, much less awesome. She really had the "suit" mentality of "I can't answer that" to many of our questions. All she discussed I have read elsewhere. In fact I knew a number of things she didn't, including the info about Mission Space possibly having the option of a no g-force ride. When we talked about Hidden Mickeys she stated flatly "They are never built into the rides". When I mentioned a number of Mickeys (ie the one in the french horn in Philharmagic) she said I was imagining them!! Ugh, I really didn't like her. She seemed more interested in telling us how she moved up in the company then sharing any inside or behind the scenes info.
The food was fabulous, with a yummy creme brulee desserr, and actually the other people at the table were very interesting, including two BWV DVC people. So it wasn't a total loss. They give you a very cool looking oversized plate with sorcerer Mickey that says I dined with an Imagineer (which Pam signed, but I wish she didn't LOL). Oh and we all got cute WDW nametags. I would do this again if I knew I would get a different imagineer, but as there is no guarantee who you get I doubt I will try again any time too soon.
Second: This is my highlight, although if you don't know or like Off Kilter (OK) it will mean nothing to you. As everyone here who reads my posts knows, I am a big Off Kilter fan. They are a celtic rock band who dress in kilts and play on the stage next to the Canadian Pavilion in Epcot. I have seen them so many times they recognize me, and I've posed for a few group shots with them (see my avatar). They are superb musicians as well as very funny and nice guys, always waving and smiling to the crowd and willing to pose for photos or sign cds after their shows. My favorite OK member is the bass player, Mark, as he's got a fabulous voice. The notes he can hit are awesome, to hear him sing Danny Boy (or anything else) is music to my ears (pun intended!). He's also a cutie. Married, but still, I can look, can't I? :) Anyhow I read that in the evenings he sits in with a band at Raglan Rd (RR)in DTD. I was really curious to see him with another band, and to see what he looked like in normal clothes instead of a kilt. After the first OK show on Sunday I asked him when he'd be at RR that week. He told me Weds and Thurs. Weds was Jellyrolls night with Pam and Linda (aka matysgranma and colorado belle. Boy did I love that, it's a must do for me from now on), so on Thursday night I hopped on the bus to DTD. Had a 10:30 ressie at RR, as I knew he didn't get onstage until about then. I arrived and it turned out I didn't need the ressie, the place was really slow that night. They told me to sit where I wanted to, so I took a seat at a table rightin front of the stage. The band was playing traditional Irish music, Mark had not arrived yet. A few minutes later I saw him walk in. I ordered dinner (btw I loved the food there) and waited. He joined the band after about 10 minutes and when he saw me smiled and waved hi. He had on jeans and a tshirt, it was so different than the OK costume, it was neat to see him in regular clothing after all these years. (nothing against kilts, but imho men look more like men in pants). The band was fine, but not as good as OK. OK has played together for many years and sound so tight. These guys were fine, but a bit sloppier, and I didn't care that much for the lead singer. Mark is the lead for OK, but he only plays bass with the RR band. Anyway they did one set and much to my happy surprise Mark came to my table and spent his entire break with me. I was so flustered, but I hope it didn't show. Hanging out with Mark was the equivalent to me of hanging out with Bruce Springsteen, I am such a fan! When it was time to go back onstage he said "I'll come back next break" and sure enough he did. So I got to hang out with his Markness twice in one night, woohoo! By then it was 1AM and my friend was going to visit me the next day early, so when he got up to do the next set I said I had to be going. But could he please take a pic with me first? He was happy to oblige, and here are we are!:
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a221/idratherbeinwdw/IMG_1203.jpg
(Yeah he's tall! I am 5'6''. Mark is 6'6'')
I take way too many photos(, believe it or not I edited out many), but here is a link to the shots I took this trip if anyone wants to check em out. The guy at the begining is Gary Puckett, who I thought did a great job. And somewhere in there are shots of the Margarita party and the great view from Jigger's balcony:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/idratherbeinwdw/album?.dir=7b84re2&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/ph//my_photos (http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/idratherbeinwdw/album?.dir=7b84re2&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/ph//my_photos)
It was so great to meet all the mouseowners at Jigger's and to be one of the Boardwalk Babes. Thanks for a memorable trip everyone!