Originally Posted By magnet Hi there. Come on over, grab a hot dog and a cold drink and have a seat. Take a load off and stay for a spell. Well, it's Monday evening. Four more days to go until the next podcast. Whew! Just think, we've almost made it through this bye week. Not much longer to go. So, what's been happening with you? It's been quiet in here for several days. Did you see Enchanted yet? I haven't, but it sounds really good. Seems like I'll have something really fun to do this coming Friday or Saturday night. I must say I wasn't impressed with the trailer, but the word-of-mouth and reviews sound great. So, did you have a good Thanksgiving? By the way, grab some turkey leftovers from the pan there when you finish that hot dog. I had a chance to get down to WDW this past weekend, and I had a great time. I spent a good bit of time at DAK seeing the Nemo Musical (which I loved), riding Dinosaur and Everest, and trying out Yak & Yeti. I rode Dinosaur for the first time this trip and let me tell you that ride scared the dickens out of me! I literally had my eyes shut for most of the ride the first time through. I had to go on it a second time just to see what I missed! I also love the fact that McDonalds is the sponsor of a Pavilion that at least at one time was known as Countdown to Extinction (maybe it still carries that title). I see a bit of irony there. Perhaps because McDonald's is slowing working towards the extinction of the human race, one burger at a time. When you come out of the briefing room to board the Time Rover, there is a short hallway you enter where this recorded message loops basically saying, McDonalds as many times as possible. It's a bit like the Head-on commercial. "This research made possible by a generous grant from the McDonalds corporation." I really wanted to load in my own tape that had things like, "McDonalds: the real reason the Dinosaurs are extinct" Yeah, maybe they should have replaced the meteor in the ride with a gigantic blob of interstellar cholesterol. "60 seconds until massive stroke impact -- keep going! You can finish that Big Mac!" Another hot dog? Nah, maybe not on second thought. Try some of the hummus over there. Also, have you ever noticed the smell inside the Dinosaur pavilion where you load onto the Time Rovers? I don't know what it is, but now I'm convinced it's artificial cheeseburger scent meant to make you hungry for McDonalds during the ride. Make sure you take note of it the next time you're in there. So subtle and devious. Of course, I'm sure I'm completely wrong about that, but it still makes for a good story. You just watched a million dinosaurs get instantly incinerated by a cosmic cataclysm, what do you want to do next? Well, I don't know why, but I really just have this incredible urge to smack down a Mickey D's cheeseburger! I LIKE that ride! Oops, time to turn the hot dogs....
Originally Posted By magnet (stirring the chili....) Brrrr, it's a bit cold out here. I hope all this food doesn't go to waste!
Originally Posted By DLTheo I love hot dogs, don't mind if I help myself to a few! Can you pass the chili, ketchup, mustard and relish over? And maybe a bit of mayo for good measure? For me it's hard to believe it has been 11 days since the last podcast. But then I practically slept through last weekend, from Thursday-Saturday, so no wonder it slipped by almost unnoticed! Turkey will do that to you. These aren't turkey dogs, by the way, are they? Only 100% pure beef for me, please. So 3 days and some change until the next podcast. This is my last chance to earn a point in the captain's challenge for a while seeing as I'll be at Disneyland from the 7-14 and will miss the podcast on both days. Too bad I can't pick it up on my radio in the car! Oh well, maybe I can stop by a rest area with Wi-fi and download it onto my iPod, and then at the next rest area put in my answer! Thanks for putting on this little shin dig Magnet! May the force be with you!
Originally Posted By twirlnhurl I think the smell in the loading area of Countdown to Extinction is the smell of theatrical fog. Doesn't make for a good story, though. The recording in the hallway after the preshow plays twice after the preshow ends. If they stop showing the preshow, the recording will stop. This isn't necessarily related, but I think that renaming "Countdown to Extinction" "Dinosaur", is as stupid as it would be to rename "Tower of Terror" "Elevator".
Originally Posted By magnet Hey! Now we're starting to have a party! Help yourself, DLTheo, to whatever you want. Where's the Mrs? Nope, no tryptophan laced turkey in those hot dogs! Yes, Twirlnhurl, the renaming IS stupid. In fact, it's almost as stupid as using a time machine to travel back to about two minutes before almost all life on Earth perishes due to a collision with.... Oh wait! -- that's the entire premise of the ride.... But let's not split hairs now. I still like it. >>>I think the smell in the loading area of Countdown to Extinction is the smell of theatrical fog.<<< (pounds the table...) Fog, shmog -- It's CHEESEBURGERS, I tell you! CHEESE - BURGERS! Of course, I'm sure you're quite right about the smell. Everyone knows that fog is essential to the operation of all time machines. That, of course, and lots of red neon lights.
Originally Posted By DLTheo When the light of the red neons is refracted through the fog and hits just right on a McDonalds cheeseburger it causes a breach in the space-time continuum that allows time travel to be possible. I should add that the more grease is used the further back in time you can travel. This is why only McDonalds could sponsor the Dinosaur attraction. Check it out Snopes. You'll find there's no mention of this being false! And speaking of time travel... I finally saw Meet the Robinsons this last weekend. I now understand what Fanboy means when he says "I can't because I have a big head and tiny little arms"! Did I mention that I and my family are leaving for Disneyland in 10 days! In 10 days, about this time I'll probably be closing in on Redding with the hope of arriving in Anaheim before 9pm, so I have time to check in at the lodgings and skip over to the park for a couple hours of magic before bedtime!!
Originally Posted By magnet Ahh, well -- I see things are cookin' along in here. I just opened up a fresh pack of hot dog rolls, so dig in everyone. Let's see, now where were we...oh, right -- at Dinosaur! I saved the best story until last. So, on one of my times through the ride, we got stuck along the route. It was right at the part where you re-enter the time hole to come back to the future. Of course, the meteor is moments away from impact, and that blathering fool, Seeker, is yelling into the radio, "You're not going to make it! You're not going to make it!" So about half a second later the entire ride stops and everything goes completely black. Everything is silent and you can't see your hand in front of your face. Just a moment ago lights were flashing and loud crashes and roars were all around. Now, there's just dead, eerie silence. So, we all just kinda waited for a moment and nothing happened. So, then I screamed, "We didn't make it! Ahhh!" Oh man, did we all just bust out laughing after that one! It really released a lot of tension that had been built up all through the ride. One of the other big highlights at the end is looking at the picture of your vehicle that is snapped at one of the scariest moments of the ride. Honestly, I've seen many pictures of some genuinely scared people on that ride. I mean -- grown men just shrieking like little girls with gigantic bug eyes and arms in the air. I'm talking about being scared witless. When I get it really bad I just close my eyes -- but some people it seems can't help but look. Talk about priceless.... Oh well, I don't know how I got off into all this stuff about Dinosaur.... Anyhoo, there's plenty more food here for y'all out there who haven't stopped in yet. So come on by and take a load off. Now, I know I had some cocoa packets here somewhere. Let me see if I can find them....
Originally Posted By schnebs Hey, magnet, nice party! You got any brats cookin' with those hot dogs? Ah, no big. I'll just grab a dog. What kind of chips do we have? Totally agree on Dnosaur. Okay, they tried to tie the ride into a movie, the movie bomberd - can we change it back? I think I'd move it near the top my list of Top 10 Things I'd Do If I Were President of WDW. My other choices: *Get rid of the hat at MGM. *Spruce up Country Bear Jamboree. *Put the original Tiki Room show back into Adventureland. * Get rid of the busses and replace them with monorails, trams, and trains. * Bring back Dreamfinder to Journey Into Imagination. * Put in a decent Disney book and music store (with lots of books and some kind of burn your own CD track system) at Downtown Disney. * Add more clothes for adult males into World of Disney. * Get rid of all the glow junk from all the parks. Okay, so I've only got 9, but I'm still working on this list. What's your 10, folks?
Originally Posted By retlawfan Hi Folks. Sorry I'm late. I was in the car driving...to DISNEYLAND. I'm in the hotel now. I have a great view out my window at the Grand Californian. DL Theo: We're going to miss you by two days. We're leaving Tuesday. Pass the hot dogs. What? 2 more dogs, and not enough buns? What kind of a scam is that? Anyway, I cannot enter into the WDW conversation as I have never made the trip. I hope to soon though, as I'm saving up my DVC points. I saw Enchanted last Wednesday with the family. We all loved it. Great fun for Disney Geeks! I have been listening to the last podcast a few minutes at a time. I'm sure i'll finish it by Friday. I'll be here at DL this week when the next one comes out. I'll have to get it when I get back to the hotel after playing at the parks all day. I don't think I'll be dominating the Captain's Challenge, thanks to my big head and little arms. Off to dreamland now, and into DL in the morning! I shouldn't have eaten all that chili...
Originally Posted By magnet Hey, retlawfan is at DL! Drop in later to let us know how it's going! I like your list schnebs, I think I'd put a lot of those on mine too. Has anyone seen Pirate Princess?
Originally Posted By DLTheo I've seen her, but she's been hanging out on other topics and sections of the discussion boards. I'm sure she'll be along eventually. Maybe fire up some more dogs and the odor will catch her attention and draw her over? Or maybe she doesn't like hot dogs. I like that list, too, Schnebs. I'll have to think on it for a while. I really like the idea of being able to burn individual songs onto a cd. They could include burning episodes of HM and Suite Life onto DVDs, too, although most of those are available on iTunes I think.
Originally Posted By schnebs DLTheo, as far as burning stuff, I was primarily thinking more of the stuff that's not readliy available or isn't gonna sell a zillion copies, like the DL Forever/WDW Forever tracks, out-of-print albums or tracks from the albums, or Vault Disney episodes that haven't been released on Treasures DVDs. But what the hey - with downloads replacing CDs and DVDs as the method of choice for picking up new content, having the option to burn what you want as opposed to Disney having to maintain a giant stock of stuff in the store that might or might not sell makes sense. BTW, I came up with my 10th item - bring back the Orange Bird and all his associated merchandise (including the song). Yeah, he's a little freaky, but I like him... The mustard bottle's getting a little low, magnet - we got any more?
Originally Posted By magnet You mean that new one sitting right in front of you? Geesh. If it had been a snake it would have bit you. Just for that, I'm only letting you have the little mustard packets now. No, just kidding. Take all the mustard you want!
Originally Posted By magnet I was just thinking about this writers' strike. Apparently, if it goes on long enough we'll end up with a lot of garbage reality shows on TV. However, if this does happen I realized that there is one small ray of light here. We may just end up with another season of... Celebrity Mole. Yes, I said it. I'll say it again -- Celebrity Mole. I know -- you're all wincing. But strangely enough, I loved it. I know, you've lost all respect for me now, but that's OK, give me another season of Celebrity Mole anyway. However, it's only good if Corbin Bernsen and Stephen Baldwin agree to come back. Oh, and Ahmad Rashad has to be the host, too. Are you the mole? I AM the MOLE! pure genius.
Originally Posted By retlawfan the weather is great The music in New Orleans Square is soothing. Lunch at Cafe Orleans was wonderful. But they did look at me funny when I asked for mustard to go with my seafood crepes. More to come...
Originally Posted By retlawfan The crowds were small today. It got busier as the day went on, but very nice overall. We were able to ride Haunted Mansion Holiday, Pirates, Indy, Big Thunder, Buzz (twice), the Monorail, the Subs, the Railroad, and even had time to eat lunch at Cafe Orleans, see some of the entertainment at Santa's Reindeer Roundup, and watch the lighting of the castle, before we headed back to the hotel for dinner. It was a great day. Other than someone in front of using a flash on her camera on Pirates, it was rather uneventful. I was impressed by the lighting of the castle. The "story" that went along with it was just OK, but the lighting effects themselves were very nice. The park in general looks very nice all dressed up for the holidays. I love to visit at this time each year. How's the BBQ doing at this tailgate? Can I toast my buns?
Originally Posted By magnet >>>Can I toast my buns?<<< What?! Retlawfan! There's only one tailgate being dropped around here, and that's the one on the rear of my truck -- so button those pants of yours back up! This ain't Mars, buddy. There's only room for one moon in my sky. I swear. These Cali types are always showboatin' around. There -- have I toasted them enough for you? Because, if not, I have a bottle of champagne in the cooler. I'll gladly pass around a glass to everyone and then we can all toast your buns. Salut!
Originally Posted By DLTheo Is there no line for the subs anymore? Thanks, retlawfan, for sharing your experiences with us. Only eight days for me and the Mrs!
