We Hopped All The Way To Disneyland Just For Some Dis Meets. Ch. 10. Added-7/14/14

[pkondz]

Sorry to hijack your thread Thumpies, but I don't think Smidgy's on my TR.

Smidgy, I sent you a pm.

Hijack over.
Please return to your normally abnormal posts.

 

[Thumper_Man]

I want to know too! Ever since I was little I've had this crazy curiosity! It's probably why I would read the encyclopedia (pre internet days) and the dictionary.

Anyway......will there be an update soon? I need me some Nebo, Smidgy, and Thumpers love!

I was hoping to get one up soon, but life got in the way. So did work. We're entering the busy time of year for me at work. This weekend we'll be out of town for a convention. Always something going on lately it seems like.

On a side note, I have some exciting news. Well exciting for us anyways. Those that follow Lady H on Facebook already know, for those that don't, well I debated on whether to let her tell you the news or wondered if I should post it myself. Let me check with her and see if she wants to tell you.

In the meantime, those that know, keep it to yourselves.

 

[bankr63]

On a side note, I have some exciting news. Well exciting for us anyways. Those that follow Lady H on Facebook already know, for those that don't, well I debated on whether to let her tell you the news or wondered if I should post it myself. Let me check with her and see if she wants to tell you.

In the meantime, those that know, keep it to yourselves.

Hey! Come on now, we've been waiting a week (well those of us who don't follow Lady H on FB). Are ya gonna spill the beans already !!!

 

[pkondz]

Bunnies are such teases.

 

[Thumper_Man]

Hey! Come on now, we've been waiting a week (well those of us who don't follow Lady H on FB). Are ya gonna spill the beans already !!!

Bunnies are such teases.

Ok. I had all this typed out last night and I was trying to reply directly on the thread right away. I don’t know what I hit on my Surface Tablet, but before I knew it “POOF” it was all gone and I wasn’t able to get it back.

That will teach me to try and reply directly into the thread.


Now to remember what I typed.

I think it went something like this.



Well since no one really replied until now, I figured everyone follows Lady H on Facebook and already knows.

Those that don’t know, take out your betting sheets.

Got them.

Ok. Here goes.

Anyone that bet Lady H and I will soon be parents, well you would have just……………..








LOST!

The good Lord hasn’t blessed us that way yet.

Now on to the news. Pkondz will soon be traveling with 2 teenage (that’s right, 2 teenage) girls in the near future.

Oh you knew that already?
He has a TR going?
Have I been away that long?

Hmm. Well did you know that Lady H won a trip to New York next year?

Yup. She’s going to New York next year and hopefully she’s taking me along with her.

How did she win you ask? From a drawing at one of our local casinos.

Anyone that knows about horse racing knows there are 3 major races in Spring time. If you don’t know about horse racing, there are 3 major races in Spring time. The 3 races are:

The Kentucky Derby
The Preakness Stakes
The Belmont Stakes.

The Kentucky Derby is run in Louisville, KY; on the first Saturday of May.
The Preakness Stakes is run in Baltimore, MD; two weeks after the Kentucky Derby and also run on a Saturday.
The Belmont Stakes is run in Elmont, NY; three weeks after the Preakness and also on a Saturday.

If a horse can win all 3 of these major races, then the horse will win the elusive Triple Crown; while his owner will win the bonus prize money that goes along with it. Only 11 horses in history have done it and there hasn’t been one since 1978.

The casino was giving away a trip to the 2015 Belmont Stakes. To qualify to win the trip, you had to meet certain requirements. Those requirements being:

You had to be a member of their players club.
You had to attend each of the 3 big races.
You had to swipe your players card at each of the 3 big races.
You had to be present to win. The trip was given away after the running of the Belmont Stakes.

Lady H and I usually go to this casino to bet on the Kentucky Derby. This is one of the few times of the year we get to spend time with my family. The casino also has a hotel, so we’ll rent a room for a couple of nights. The KD is the only race we go and bet at this particular casino. For the Preakness and Belmont, we’ll go to the race track in Albuquerque and bet those races there. It’s closer to home for us.

The day Lady H and I arrive to the casino, there are promotional people at the race book letting you know that they are giving away a trip to the Belmont next year. All you had to do is attend all 3 of the big races and swipe your card at each race to qualify. At first Lady H and I weren’t going to swipe our cards. We typically don’t have that type of luck and weren’t really sure if we would be back to attend the other 2 races. Throughout the day, we said what the heck, lets give it a try. We each took turns going to the place where you had to swipe your cards. Hand your card to the lady in charge of running the drawing, she swipes it, hands it back to you and you’re entered.

Fast forward to the next 2 weeks. Same routine for the Preakness as the Kentucky Derby, only this time we didn’t stay the night at the casino's hotel. We just went for the day. First thing we do is go to the place we need to swipe our cards then proceed to our normal spot at the race book.

Fast forward 3 weeks now. Again, we are not staying at the hotel. We tried to book a room, but with the potential of a triple crown winner this year, rooms were expensive. We booked a cheaper room some place else. As we did before, first thing Lady H and I do is head over to the lady that is running the drawing. When we get there and hand her our cards, she greets us with a smile, says hello and lets us know that only 26 people are potentially qualified to win the trip. At the Kentucky Derby, over 100 people had swiped their player cards. At the Preakness, only 26 had come back to swipe their card. Lady H and I being 2 out of those 26.

The lady swiped our cards and told us that only 10 people out of the 26 have swiped their cards so far. We’re hoping the odds stay that way. I ask her if you need to be present to win. She informs us that we do and where the drawing will be held.

We go back to our normal hang out spot. Soon my aunt shows up and tells us she’s also entered for the drawing (she is also part of the 26) but they told her that the drawing had been moved to a different location. Immediately I go to the place where we swiped our cards to verify if the drawing had been moved. Lady tells me she’s glad I came back and says yes, it will now be in front of the players club. While I was there, I glanced at her sheet. 22 of the 26 people have now swiped their cards.

I go back and tell Lady H that it has been moved and where we need to go after the race. The Belmont is run and for another year, there is no triple crown winner.

We head over to the Players Club and wait for them to draw the winning name. First name drawn is Lady H’s. Lady H said she didn’t hear her first name called, just her last name. My aunt and I heard it. We were more excited than her at the moment.

I gave her a big hug and let her know she won. Excitement finally set in and she went up to claim her prize.

Lady H is still waiting to get all the details of what she won. We know for sure she won 2 round-trip airline tickets and 2 tickets to the 2015 Belmont Stakes. We don’t know if hotel is included or not. She is currently waiting for the casino player's club to call her back with all the details.

So far, I’m included in her travel plans. Being Elmont, NY is just on the outskirts of Manhattan, we plan to take a week long vacation and see some of the sites we’ve always wanted to see. Statue of Liberty, Ground Zero, 911 Memorial, Empire State Building to name a few. We also want to see a Broadway show on Broadway. All of the Broadway shows we have seen have been the traveling shows.

For a lady that says she never wins anything like that, I would say this was a nice win. Way to go honey.

 

[Backstage_Gal]

WOW, congrats, that's an awesome prize! A week in NY sounds awesome, I think I will put that on my bucket list. Now that hubby is retiring and I am not too far behind, that sounds very doable.

Of course we will need a TR for that!

 

[Thumper_Man]

WOW, congrats, that's an awesome prize!

Thank you. I wasn't expecting her to win. I was expecting to win. I'm just glad one of us won it though.

A week in NY sounds awesome, I think I will put that on my bucket list. Now that hubby is retiring and I am not too far behind, that sounds very doable.

It's been our bucket list as well. Since we will at least have flights paid for, we should be able to manage the hotel costs. Looking at the prices for some of those hotels though, Yikes. I can tell you we will be there June 5-12, 2015; in case you decide to go.

We figured we would take a week to see what we want to see. I'm trying to get convince her to also go to Six Flags and ride the biggest, baddest roller coaster there is. I may be doing that one alone.

We wanted to do Orlando next year as well. Depending on what is covered for the NY trip, we may have to postpone Orlando until 2016.

Of course we will need a TR for that!

We haven't even finished this TR and you want one for that trip?

We'll see what we can do. Work is still crazy but I'm working on the next chapter. I know I know, I promised one a couple of weeks ago. Trying to catch up on the Dis at the moment. Haven't had a chance to really to come her much, post much or keep up with other TR's. Things should be back to normal in a couple more weeks and I can post more regularly again.

 

[orangecats2]

Yay! Although I knew she had won, I didn't know the whole story. We talked about maybe meeting up with you at Six Flags. Who wouldn't want to ride Kingda Ka? And El Toro is supposed to be a good woodie.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

CONGRATULATIONS THUMPERS!!!!! WHAT A PRIZE TO WIN! I'm SURE THAT TRIP WILL WARRANT A TR!

 

[laura74]

What a great prize! Congrats!

 

[laura74]

I honestly didn't think it could be such a big deal! And again, the only reason I don't post it is because it is a unique enough name that makes my musings very public on InfernalNet search engines. And who knows, I may want to run for Prime Minister some day! Or maybe get a job at Disney...

So let's stick with Laura's moniker for me - Montague it is (as far as the DIS is concerned).

Nebo, if it hurts that bad not to know, you can PM me (or get Smidgy to pretend it's you) and maybe I'll crack...

I won! I won! I won!

Oh. There's no prize for winning the name the not-banker game??

 

[bankr63]

I won! I won! I won!

Oh. There's no prize for winning the name the not-banker game??

How about a (not) all expenses paid trip for one in the backseat of the Pkondzi limo from the 'Peg to the Falls with a couple of giggly teenaged girls? Hear he could use someone to share the pain... No?

I have to admit that Thumpie's option number one was the first to cross my mind. Keep on trying though, it's lots of fun (the kids that is; well and the trying too )

If the prize package doesn't include hotel can you trade your TS? Manhattan Club is an expensive trade, but if it's available it would be tres chic! That's where I want to stay if we ever get around to a NY visit.

 

[laura74]

I can just see the ad for that sweepstakes...

 

[mmeb144]

"Winner must also endure teenage giggling." Is middle aged man giggling not something to be endured?

 

[pkondz]

First off...
CONGRATS Lady H!
You won a trip!!!
That's so great!

But....
You're going to put off WDW til 2016 and we may be back on for 2015.

I've given up trying to make plans for Disney, I think.

How about a (not) all expenses paid trip for one in the backseat of the Pkondzi limo from the 'Peg to the Falls with a couple of giggly teenaged girls? Hear he could use someone to share the pain... No?

Oh, yeah.
More estrogen in the car.
That's what I need.

I can just see the ad for that sweepstakes...

That's really good Laura.
I especially got a kick out of "additional entertainment other than Ponzi".

However, when people actually get to meet me, they are going to be so disapointed.

Heck. Don't take my word for it. Just ask Monty.
Speaking of which. I have a TR chapter to get to....

"Winner must also endure teenage giggling." Is middle aged man giggling not something to be endured?

Nah. It's to be cherished. Like a fine whine.

 

[Thumper_Man]

What’s this? A new chapter? The Thumpers do exist.

We last left our quartet at the parking entrance of USH. 4 go in, but do 4 come out?

Getting to the parking garage is a whole other adventure. Keep right, go straight 200 paces, keep left, turn right, now jump. At that’s the just first mile or so. It seems you literally cruise around the whole park to get to the parking garage. Once inside the parking garage, Nebo hands me a $10 bill. I guess he wasn’t to sore about not seeing the Hollywood sign after all.

“Thanks for the tip.”

“It’s to help pay for gas and parking” says Nebo.

Guess I was wrong. I did try to give it back saying it would’ve cost us the same to get here whether or not they came along. He wasn’t having any of it and let us keep it. Cool. Now I have beer money.

As we walk in, I have Nebo and Smidgy stop and pose for a picture.


People are already lining up. So we join the line and wait.

And wait,

AND WAIT.

Until about 9:45 or so. They open the gates to let us in. Finally. We start making our way down the main path only to be stopped once again by a giant rope. This is something new. At least it’s something Lady H and I didn’t experience last year.

Soon you get a movie director telling you they are shooting a film today and that they need all of us to be part of it. Just act natural, have fun and when they say action; we are to go about our day. Producer comes over the speaker and “Action.” I want to say everyone runs towards their favorite attractions, but that’s not quite the case. TM’s still have ropes and hold it and walk you to the middle of the park. This is to keep me from running over and trampling people. Once we get to the middle of the park, half the crowd goes to the left and the other half to the right. We go to the right and head towards the Studio Backlot Tour. This will take about 45-60 minutes of our time. Plus it’s better to do first thing in the morning when it’s still some what cool.

If you’ve never been to USH, The Studio Backlot Tour cars are shuttle type cars. Well here, see for yourself.


I took that picture when we went in 2012. Still the same. As you can see, there are no windows and no air-conditioning. You do not want to be riding in that car in the afternoon. Especially if its really hot outside. You want to save the attractions that will help keep you cool for later on in the day. At least that’s our strategy and our plan for today. Yes, I have a plan for today. Do exactly what Lady H and I did last time. It worked for us last time and we hope it works again this time. We’re hoping not to have the same failure we did in Disneyland.

We get through the queue pretty quickly. Lady H hops in, I follow, then it’s Smidgy and Nebo, and……….. this guy. The one sitting next to Nebo’s left.



At first this guy wasn’t in our row. We had a row all to ourselves. One of the TM’s put this guy in our row at the last minute. This made for a not so happy Nebo. Smidgy told me that Nebo needed the end seat to be able to see better. And he had the end seat until the last minute. Had I known earlier, I would’ve let him get on first this way he was sure to have the end seat. One thing we didn’t think to look into was to see if they had any type of GAC. Had I also known we would have to wait at rope drop, Smidgy and Nebo could’ve probably looked into it. I guess I could’ve done some research on it before hand as well. Sorry Nebo and Smidgy.

Our tram departs and we begin the backlot tour. One thing unique about USH compared to its counterpart USO is that USH still uses the studios to film movies and tv shows. On our tram tour, we go to see 2 tv films being filmed today. As we pass each set, we’ll have to be vewy, vewy quiet as to not to interrupt the filming.

I don’t remember exactly what shows they were, but here’s a pic of the first.



Shortly after we pass this set, we see this and are told to beware. There is a giant gorilla on the loose.


Then they drive us in here.


Hopefully everybody that goes in, comes out. King Kong was fighting to protect us from the dinosaurs. You could feel them jumping on the cars, shaking the cars and you could seem them jumping from side to side. Once Kong defeats the dinosaurs, we're on our way. I look to my left, Smidgy and Nebo are accounted for. Look to my right, Lady H is accounted for. We survived. Now I don't have to worry about filling out paperwork for a missing person.

Next we’re off to see some of the props and cars used in the movies.

Props from Jurassic Park




Famous Cars






Now that I was looking at the 2 Fast 2 Furious car pic, I realized we didn’t get to see the dancing cars this trip. It was something Lady H and I had seen on the last trip. I wonder if it’s too late to request some of my money back?

After the cool cars and props, we make our way to weather maker. This is basically a bunch of sprinklers set up to show you how they simulate rain, since it never really rains in California. Or so we were told. More on this later. For right now, here’s a couple of pics of it raining without a cloud in sight. Gotta love movie magic.



Rained so much, it caused a flood.



After the massive flood, we make our way over to Amity. We’re going deep sea fishing. I’ve always wanted to do that. This will be fun. On the way, the is another film crew shooting a show. Note to self, don’t piss of the film crews.



“Did you feel that? Felt like an earthquake.”

No, we weren’t in a real earthquake, but in a simulated one.

All looks quiet.


Until the flood caught up with us again. Must forgot to turn off the artificial weather maker.


Now here’s some food for thought. At this point of the tour, if you were in the simulated earthquake and a real earthquake happened, would you feel the real one?


We finally get to Amity. Our fishing trip is cancelled because of sharks in the area.


Jaws almost got Lady H. She got out of the way just in time, but missed taking the pic.

After Jaws, we were on the set of Desperate Housewives even though I didn’t see any housewives that were desperate. I was willing to offer my assistance if they truly were desperate. All we saw were their houses.





Oh look. A motel. And there’s vacancy. Nebo and Smidgy like to stay onsite, I wonder why they didn’t book here?


I’m sure the bodies lying on top of the cars didn’t have anything to do with it. I wonder where all those bodies came from anyways?

I would get my answer soon enough.

There was another one here.


And here.


You would guess some kind of natural disaster like a twister came through the area. Nope. My guess is they all came from this jet crash.



Actually, all the bodies are part of the Halloween Horror Nights. My guess is they were supposed to be zombies.

Soon our tour would end. These are the last pictures I took of the tour.




At that time, these were the final remains of the Gibson Amphitheatre, a popular concert and show venue at Universal Citywalk. By now it is probably totally destroyed as USH is adding the Wizarding World of Harry Potter to this park as well. It won’t be as elaborate as the WWoHP in Orlando, but it will have some of the shops and the Forbidden Journey ride. Details of WWoHP have yet to be released more in detail.

That was the end of our tour and the end of this chapter. I hope this enough to keep the lynch mob from coming after us. Come back in another month or so for the next installment.

In all honesty though, Lady H and I are glad you are still around. We thank you all for your patience. Work has been super busy. We haven’t even had time to really post on our TR much less on anybody else’s TR. We even haven't had much time come to the Dis for that matter. Things are slowly getting back to normal for me. The busy time of the year for me has passed.

As for Lady H, she may be even busier now. She accepted a new position at work. I’ll try to keep the TR going if she can’t find the time. So you all may be stuck with my style of writing. Time will tell. One way or another, we will get through this TR.

 

[pkondz]

What’s this? A new chapter? The Thumpers do exist.

Not buying it.
Who are you? And what have you done with the real Thumpers?

We last left our quartet at the parking entrance of USH. 4 go in, but do 4 come out?

I'm going to say "yes".
Might not be the same four though.

Getting to the parking garage is a whole other adventure.

Sweet!
You're not even in the park and you're already having an adventure!
What a truly magical place this USH must be.

Guess I was wrong. I did try to give it back saying it would’ve cost us the same to get here whether or not they came along. He wasn’t having any of it and let us keep it.

I'm not surprised.
More on this around chapter 2 of my TR.

I like how Smidgy keeps her stun gun close to Nebo's head at all times.

TM’s still have ropes and hold it and walk you to the middle of the park. This is to keep me from running over and trampling people.

Just you?
Then you should feel honoured that they put that rope up just for you!

(pssst. Everyone else... Don't you think in actuality he should be mortified?)

Once we get to the middle of the park,

Hello! And welcome to the middle of the park!

We go to the right and head towards the Studio Backlot Tour. This will take about 45-60 minutes of our time.

Wow! That's a long time.
Once you get there though, how long do you have to wait in line and how long is the actual ride?

As you can see, there are no windows and no air-conditioning. You do not want to be riding in that car in the afternoon. Especially if its really hot outside.

That's good planning.
Did you realize that yourselves, possibly by suffering through it, or did you read about that somewhere first?

Yes, I have a plan for today. Do exactly what Lady H and I did last time.

I was so sure that sentence was going to end with "Do exactly what Lady H tells me to do."

Smidgy told me that Nebo needed the end seat to be able to see better. And he had the end seat until the last minute. Had I known earlier, I would’ve let him get on first this way he was sure to have the end seat. One thing we didn’t think to look into was to see if they had any type of GAC. Had I also known we would have to wait at rope drop, Smidgy and Nebo could’ve probably looked into it. I guess I could’ve done some research on it before hand as well. Sorry Nebo and Smidgy.

Ah, well. You can't think of everything.

On our tram tour, we go to see 2 tv films being filmed today.

That's cool.

As we pass each set, we’ll have to be vewy, vewy quiet as to not to interrupt the filming.

Were there wascawy wabbits awound?

Shortly after we pass this set, we see this and are told to beware. There is a giant gorilla on the loose.

I thought you said he got on the tram.

I look to my left, Smidgy and Nebo are accounted for. Look to my right, Lady H is accounted for.

Great! Mr. Annoying on the end got eaten!

We survived. Now I don't have to worry about filling out paperwork for a missing person.

Who has the time? There's a whole park to experience still.

I realized we didn’t get to see the dancing cars this trip. It was something Lady H and I had seen on the last trip.

I remember that.
Odd that it wasn't there this time.
I thought it looked pretty good.

Now here’s some food for thought. At this point of the tour, if you were in the simulated earthquake and a real earthquake happened, would you feel the real one?

The answer is yes.
The real question is... would you notice a difference?

We finally get to Amity. Our fishing trip is cancelled because of sharks in the area.

Really? Wouldn't shark fishing be fun?
Might need a bigger boat...

Jaws almost got Lady H. She got out of the way just in time, but missed taking the pic.

I don't understand why more people don't take pictures while they are trying to save their lives.

After Jaws, we were on the set of Desperate Housewives even though I didn’t see any housewives that were desperate. I was willing to offer my assistance if they truly were desperate.

Very magnanimous of you sir.

Oh look. A motel. And there’s vacancy. Nebo and Smidgy like to stay onsite, I wonder why they didn’t book here?

It would certainly be convenient.
Well... up until you had a shower anyway.

My guess is they all came from this jet crash.

Possibly from War of the Worlds?

USH is adding the Wizarding World of Harry Potter to this park as well. It won’t be as elaborate as the WWoHP in Orlando, but it will have some of the shops and the Forbidden Journey ride.

Interesting.

That was the end of our tour and the end of this chapter. I hope this enough to keep the lynch mob from coming after us.

No. Probably not.

In all honesty though, Lady H and I are glad you are still around.

Nope. We're all gone.
This is an automated service message........

We thank you all for your patience. Work has been super busy. We haven’t even had time to really post on our TR much less on anybody else’s TR. We even haven't had much time come to the Dis for that matter. Things are slowly getting back to normal for me. The busy time of the year for me has passed.

Shucks, T-Man. No need to apologize.
We all know you guys are busy.
We're just glad you're still able to post from time to time.

As for Lady H, she may be even busier now. She accepted a new position at work.

Congrats, Lady H... I think?

I’ll try to keep the TR going if she can’t find the time. So you all may be stuck with my style of writing.

Nooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!

Time will tell. One way or another, we will get through this TR.

Speak for yourself!
Thanks for the update T-Man!

 

[Worfiedoodles]

What Ponzi said -- Thanks for the update!

Maria

 

[mmeb144]

Still here. Looking forward to more updates, however they arrive.

 

[Thumper_Man]

Today is a special day on the Thumper's TR. Today is one of the writer's birthday. Dare to guess which one? Here's a hint: She's the cute one.


Tell me the truth, the hint gave it away right?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LADY H!