--------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 149 DISNEY Ref: EDR00000 Date: 09/21/97 From: STEVEN ACEVEDO Time: 05:36am \/To: MATTHEW KIRBY (Read 1 times) Subj: Re: Disney Fan Fiction MK>CB> Does anyone know where I can get some GOOD disney fan ficiton? MK>CB> Preferably a HTTP: address but if you know of anything out there lease MK>CB> help. MK>You could try the DAFT archives at http://www.foxfur.com/~daft/daft.html MK>I specializes mostly in stories based on shows from the Disney Afternoon. I'll have to check that out next time. :) --- OLX 2.2 TD Today's main course: Peanut butter and strychnine. * Origin: The GIFfer BBS, 75+gig, (813)969-2761 (1:377/50) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 149 DISNEY Ref: EDR00001 Date: 09/21/97 From: RICH KOSTER Time: 11:16pm \/To: ALL (Read 1 times) Subj: Metcalfs @ WDW day 7 Yoo Hoo, Disney EchoEars! Continuing with a series of trip reports from my friend Bruce Metcalf... Metcalfs @ WDW day 7 Today it's back to the Magic Kingdom to see what we missed the first time. Breakfast at Tony's Towne Square: Country Fritattas. This place is such a calm eye of the storm. We sat and enjoyed our coffee; outside the mothers pushed their frightened offspring toward the beckoning walkarounds while proud papas watched their whole life pass by in a camcorder viewfinder. Even at the full length of Main Street, we could tell when the rope dropped. We quickly made our way to Splash Mountain to find the wait under five minutes! (I do so love visiting in the off-season!) There seems to be a new water cannon added since last we looked--just as each log drops into the briar patch, this new pipe jets water all over whatever log may be drifting past, plus anyone standing on the closer bridge. Runoff from this travels down the sidewalks all the way to mid-Frontierland. SWMBO says the signs that say "You May Get Wet" should be changed to say "You Will Definitly Get SPLOOSHED!" Camera note: if you like those "disposable" cameras, bring a zip-lock baggie to put them in for SM, or be prepared to watch them disassemble themselves right in your hand. Don't ask. Despite the Swiss Family Treehouse being shuttered for refurbishment, you can get to the Jungle Cruise with a little effort. We found a short line and a short speil by a pilot with short experience at the use of the microphone. I sat three from the front and couldn't hear most of what he said. He ran so fast that he had to skip several bad jokes, and had no interaction with his crew. Dick Nunis, where are you when we really need you? Did I see signs of political correctness on the JC, or am I confusing it with the one at DL? I remember the rhino having treed one Great White Hunter and several black bearers--this ride had all white men up a tree. Hmm, could just be my memory. During this one day, SWMBO became addicted to slushes. We found three different flavors at various spots around the park, and tried them all. It was hot enough. Several more attractions, then we elected to nap away the heat of the afternoon. Dinner at the Grand Floridian Cafe, but not without difficulty. Remember what the guidebooks say about how far it is from guest parking to the lobby? I measured it at about 1/2 mile. We decided against it, parked at the Polynesian, and took the monorail. You'ld think they really didn't want us off-property riff-raff coming to eat! Our appetiser of fried calimari was most unusual. Unusual in that it was neither great nor terrible, as is usually the case with squid, but just pretty good, not quite rubbery, a little too spicy. We dined on shrimp Caesar salads, which were excellent--only three shrimp, but BIG ONES. Back to the MK for the fireworks, and to pick up the merchandise and photos we had dropped off. We watched the fireworks from our favorite bench in Mickey's Toontown Fair, the one that makes it look like the fireworks are being set off in Mickey's backyard. We were surprised afterward to find the WDW Railroad had quit running--we usually use it for a quick exit--because the park closed at 9 just like the fireworks. Bummer, big walk in big crowd! At the Polynesian again, we went to "Capt. Cooks Snack & Ice Cream Company". What a rip! The only ice cream in this place is a small freezer of Haagen Daas bars. No sign of the "make your own sundae bar" advertised in several guidebooks. So, back upstairs to our favorite, the Coral Isle Cafe where we ordered sundaes, and got just what we wanted--with a big smile. Between the staff, this restaurant, and the convenience to transportation options, I can understand why this continues to be the most popular resort, despite the rooms being a bit long in the tooth. Bruce Metcalf, EMuck Rufus, mailto:bmetcalf@cdc3.cdc.net --- April V1.0+ * Origin: The Mouse House of Mickey, Minnie & Meecelet -New Orleans (1:3828/1.3) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 149 DISNEY Ref: EDR00002 Date: 09/21/97 From: RICH KOSTER Time: 11:16pm \/To: ALL (Read 1 times) Subj: Metcalfs @ WDW day 8, the Bummer Yoo Hoo, Disney EchoEars! Continuing with a series of trip reports from my friend Bruce Metcalf... Metcalfs @ WDW day 8, the Bummer >>> SPOILER ALERT <<< No, this post doesn't give away ride secrets or any such, it's just the tale of a spoiled day. We proved the truth of the saying, "A bad day at WDW is better than a good day at work." Boy did we ever! It started with a truely mediocre breakfast at the Concourse Steakhouse. As good as our breakfast was last week, this was poor. Coffee so bad we had to send the first pot back, missing silver, overcooked food, undercooked food, hard-to-find server, only the Mickey Stickies were as good as we deserved. Nothing bad enough to walk out on, about par for your average Shoney's, but otherwise a meal well worth forgetting--something I would not be able to do. This day's plan started with a quick sail to Discovery Island for a half-day with the animals. Before we were out of sight of the dock, my camera malfunctioned and required a jury-rig repair. Back on the trail, and my normally modest pace began to slow, just as the stream of sweat down my back began to increase. By the midpoint of the walk, I had to confess I was ill, but there was nothing for it but to make the long trek back to the dock--with not air-conditioned stops along the way. When we finally reached the boat, I insisted on a seat by the rail. Before we reached the Contemporary's dock, the wisdom of this was, sadly, proven. The pilot was most solicitous, providing a wet rag for my head, an escort to the lobby, and direction to some lounge chairs where I could rest before driving myself back to the hotel (SWMBO doesn't drive--even on Autopia). My bed beckoned, but other symptoms kept me from staying there for long. SWMBO thinks it was caused by the heat and the DEET-containing sunblock I used for the first time. I blame food poisoning from breakfast. Whichever, it was a distinctly non-fun day. By evening, however, I had recovered sufficiently to have dinner at Bonfamille's at Port Orleans. Blackened scallops on linguini, and their Trio for Two sundae for dessert. I couldn't finish either, but it all stayed where it belonged and by the next morning I was all ready to go again. All in all, not a great day, but one I still wouldn't have traded for work. Hmm, what does that say about what I do for a living? Bruce Metcalf, EMuck Rufus, mailto:bmetcalf@cdc3.cdc.net --- April V1.0+ * Origin: The Mouse House of Mickey, Minnie & Meecelet -New Orleans (1:3828/1.3) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 149 DISNEY Ref: EDR00003 Date: 09/21/97 From: RICH KOSTER Time: 11:58pm \/To: ALL (Read 1 times) Subj: Metcalfs @ WDW day 9 Yoo Hoo, Disney EchoEars! Continuing with a series of trip reports from my friend Bruce Metcalf... Metcalfs @ WDW day 9 Today we take things easy, just to make sure yesterday is gone. A late breakfast at Wilderness Lodge's Whispering Canyon Cafe. Very late. Almost lunch. In fact, SWMBO asked our server if a sandwich were available, and he finagled one from the kitchen for her. Things were winding down, but in many respects, this looks like the same kind of place the Prime Time Cafe is--major audience participation. I think I'll come back here sometime when I'm feeling more energetic. We asked at the WL Guest Services desk for the Hidden Mickey Hunt. Two pages of abstruce posey that are supposed to guide one to some obscure HMs. We gave it an hour, found none, and decided to search the Hidden Mickeys web site instead. I really like the feel of this resort. The Polynesian may have the best transportation and friendliest staff, but this place has ... a "feel" that I'm having trouble putting into words. I gotta win the lottery so I can try these places out for myself. We then took a tour through Caribbean Beach Resort, just because we had never been there. Interesting, but too close to the swamp for my taste. The AMC movie house at Downtown Disney has expanded to 24 screens. The amazing thing is, they still actually pop real popcorn! Dinner was at the Wolfgang Puck Cafe. Now, in fairness, I have to conceed that this is a new location for Puck. Just opened last week. I can't, however, find that sufficient excuse. Don't get me wrong, the food is very good, and the prices quite reasonable for WDW. Sadly, the service sucks! Why is it that trained waiters bring the entrees out before clearing the salad or appetiser plates? We just stared at him until SWMBO, fearful of wearing her dinner as he tried to balance a plate on the corner of the table, started bussing her own dishes. Later, when our wine glasses ran dry, we couldn't find him to order another. Finally, the air-conditioning wasn't working, which was in itself sufficient to drive us elsewhere for our dessert. Frankly, I would gladly trade the "show kitchen" for a "show air-conditioning". I always considered it somewhat declasse' to enter the dining room through the kitchen anyway. I would also gladly trade the "security cam" kitchen monitors for a radar system for locating my server when needed. On our way out, the manager made the mistake of asking us how everything was. We told her. And told her. At great length. I don't think she understood what our complaint was. Rather than cross Puck off your list entirely, I suggest we give them a month or two to get their staff properly trained. If they still haven't gotten their act together, let's all say not-nice things about them on the internet, OK? Bruce Metcalf, EMuck Rufus, mailto:bmetcalf@cdc3.cdc.net --- April V1.0+ * Origin: The Mouse House of Mickey, Minnie & Meecelet -New Orleans (1:3828/1.3) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 149 DISNEY Ref: EDT00000 Date: 09/22/97 From: JENNIFER SHARWARD Time: 08:53pm \/To: CAROL KOSTER (Read 1 times) Subj: Late openings Yoo Hoo, Carol! On 09-17-97, CAROL KOSTER wrote to CHET RHODES: CK> Another point: I think Disney would rather err on opening an CK> attraction "late" (later than the original announced opening date) CK> and have it in full operational order as the designers intended CK> guests to enjoy it, and have it be safe, than to open an attraction CK> "on time" and have it constantly breaking down or needing tweaaking CK> and thus incur guest wrath because the ride is up one day (or hour) CK> and down the next. Well, it saddens me that we may well miss it on our upcoming trip. (It took me ten years before I was able to go a second time, so I suppose it will be a long while before any third trip!) At the same time, I remember this being somewhat the case with Splash Mountain at Disneyland. The worst was that you could see the finale scene when going by on the train, but they weren't running anything except potato sacks and employees! Anyhow, I got a bit of a glimpse of one of the other big Disney projects recently, that being the renovation of Disneyland's Tomorrowland. :) I was in the park from the 18th to the 20th. Jennifer FidoNet: 1:203/52 Internet: jennifer.sharward@24stex.com * Freddie 1.2.5 * I know how to handle a stressful situation...hide! --- FLAME v1.1 * Origin: 24th Street Exchange * A BBS Since 1983 * 916.448.2483 (1:203/52) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 149 DISNEY Ref: EDT00001 Date: 09/19/97 From: STEVEN ACEVEDO Time: 12:15am \/To: ALL (Read 1 times) Subj: Sleeping Beauty Mom bought another Pre-Birthday gift today for me. It was the Disney Classic SLEEPING BEAUTY. I saw it once on video years ago and also in the movie theaters in The Early 80's. Suffice to say I'm a sucker for Fairy Tales especially this one. Maleficent is the grandmother of all super female villians (villianess) when you come down to it. After all how many of nasty people with supernatural powers can conjur up all the powers of Hell at their disposal? The good fairies were funny and sweet in their own way too. To save Aurora/Briar Rose they spend 16 years being human to keep Maleficient from knowing where they all are. It's in the battle of the wands that is easily the best giveaway when two of them get rather fussy about the color of the dress they are making do they get out of control. The Making of SB was especially wonderful. Seeing the voice behind Sleeping Beauty was a real treat. Mary Costa definetely looked the part then as she does now. Simply radiant. Also it should be noted The Voice Of Maleficient was voiced by Eleanor Audley who is also Madame Leota, The Disembodied soothsayer in the Seance Room at The Haunted Mansion. :) The gripe: You know there had to be one. All these plugs for the upcoming videos and the CD ROM software was irriating. Couldn't they at least save all that for the very end? I had to advance the video a few times before I got to the actual start of the film. --- OLX 2.2 TD Press "+" to see another tagline. * Origin: GE999 BBS * The Anime Resource * 718-961-1764 * (1:278/539) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 149 DISNEY Ref: EDU00000 Date: 09/24/97 From: RICH KOSTER Time: 12:14am \/To: ALL (Read 1 times) Subj: Metcalfs @ WDW day 10 w/OT job offer Yoo Hoo, Disney EchoEars! Continuing with a series of WDW trip reports from my friend Bruce Metcalf... Metcalfs @ WDW day 10 w/OT job offer Today was only a half day--second half first: Late lunch at the Yacht Club Galley. Nice. SWMBO says WDW is the only place she's ever had New England Clam Chowder with clams big enough to chew--she loves it. I had an old New England specialty: a spicy chicken burrito, yum. It still being stinking hot, we tried to walk *through* the Yacht & Beach Club resorts to get as close to Epcot's International Gateway as possible before leaving the air conditioning. The guidebooks say this dual resort is over a mile from one end to the other. I think it's only about half that, but you make so many wrong turns wandering through the buildings that it just *seems* twice as long. We did actually find our way to the door just six feet from the bridge--only had to ask directions once, too. Because of the mosquito trouble and consequent curtailment of waterway activities, we have changed the theme of our planned photo essay from "The Disney Navy" to "The Fountains of Paradise" (with apologies to Sir Arthur). I hope to include shots of all of the fountains at WDW, and I got a two-roll start on it. I'll post an announcement when the web site goes up, probably in a month or so. Dinner at Askershus at Norway. Yummy herring! Then again, where else *can* you get herring in this country? Our server was shocked to find it was our fifth visit with them--she said they almost never see anyone twice there. Maybe if they offered fries? After three failed attempts at finding a decent spot on previous trips, we planted ourselves in front of Canada and got a quite decent view of Illuminations for a change. I still say that Fantasy in the Sky over the MK is a better show. Malts at Beaches and Cream, and it's off to bed (well, off to EMuck, but that seems to lack the same poetry). >>> OFF-TOPIC ALERT <<< The reason the morning got off to a slow start was a job interview in Orblando. After 15 minutes, the vice president of the college asked if I could start next Monday! We tentatively agreed to wait until the end of the semester. Full-time work, a four-day work week and only 40 minutes from WDW. WOO HOO!!! Pray for me gang, or at least send me bad news so my sneakers can get some traction--I'm floating! Bruce Metcalf, EMuck Rufus, mailto:bmetcalf@cdc3.cdc.net --- April V1.0+ * Origin: The Mouse House of Mickey, Minnie & Meecelet -New Orleans (1:3828/1.3) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 149 DISNEY Ref: EDU00001 Date: 09/24/97 From: RICH KOSTER Time: 07:47am \/To: ALL (Read 1 times) Subj: Metcalfs @ WDW 11, OT: Busch Gardens Yoo Hoo, Disney EchoEars! Continuing with a series of WDW trip reports from my friend Bruce Metcalf... Metcalfs @ WDW day 11, OT: Busch Gardens Breakfast at Boatwrights in Dixie Landings. I don't know what they do to make the sausage taste like that, but it's enough to make this Yankee forgive the South for grits! Dinner at Artists Point in the Wilderness Lodge. Fair onion soup, *marvelous* salmon pate served with the apple butter and regular butter for the rolls that is better than all four salmon dishes served at Askershus last night, a rare venison chop (prime rib for the non-Bambi-eating SWMBO), deep-dish apple pie with cinnamon ice cream, wines from my favorite Washington State winery (Chateau Ste. Michele), and decor that is half National Park Service and half Piet Mondrian. Don't miss this joint (unless paying $100 for dinner for two makes you break out in a rash, of course). >>> OFF-TOPIC ALERT <<< Today we went to Busch Gardens, just an hour away. Perhaps I should say "Bush-league Gardens". I don't know, but I remember being a lot happier with BG when it consisted of three picnic tables, two birdcages, and a free beer booth out behind the brewery in San Fernando, CA. It was free then, too--today it costs (just a little) more than a day at Disney. FWIW, BG is actually two parks in one. One is a collection of state-of-the-art* roller coasters with slight amounts of theming in the queue areas. The other is a fairly large and well-managed zoo with frequent opportunities to ask questions of competent staff. Why anyone would consider it a good idea to put these two parks in the same place is beyond me. Oh yes, they're also reputed to brew beer somewhere around the place, but we never found it. * Note for adults: state-of-the-art = turns-you-upside-down. The zoo was good. Annotated tours by monorail, steam train, aerial tramway, and (extra fare) jeep past the animal enclosures gave us better than expected access to the animals on display. The displays of chimpanzees, gorillas, warthogs, and meercats were particularly interesting and informative. We did take one ride, the smallest of the water flumes. Disney should copy their signs for Splash Mountain: "You *will* get wet and you *may* get soaked!" Poor engineering and inadequate training put SWMBO and I in the back of a log with a small woman and child in the front. We dragged our tail all through the ride. As with the coasters, theming stops at the loading platform and does not resume. This gets put down in my book as a once-in-a-lifetime experience, which is a nice way of saying, "We don't plan to go back." YMMV. BTW, remember the guidebook "Orlando's Other Theme Parks" that gave me bad data about the Kennedy Space Center? It told me to turn left when I needed to turn right. I never would have gotten there by following his directions. I see a pattern developing here. Bruce Metcalf, EMuck Rufus, mailto:bmetcalf@cdc3.cdc.net --- April V1.0+ * Origin: The Mouse House of Mickey, Minnie & Meecelet -New Orleans (1:3828/1.3) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 149 DISNEY Ref: EDU00002 Date: 09/24/97 From: CAROL KOSTER Time: 10:51am \/To: ALL (Read 1 times) Subj: WDW 'Net Meet December 6th Yoo Hoo, Fidonet Disney EchoEARS! Rich, our toddler son Michael and I are WDW-bound the first week of December, 1997. Coinciding with our visit will be our 17th wedding anniversary, celebrating Michael turning 2 years old a month early and my turning 44 (!!!) about 3 weeks early. On Saturday, December 6th there will be a couple of computer network meets going on that Rich and I and Michael will be attending and the Fidonet Disney Echo's own Bruce Metcalf will be there too. One meet is related to EntertainMUCK members and the other is related to those who read the Usenet/Internet newsgroup rec.arts.disney.parks (Noon, Saturday, December 6th at the fountain inside Epcot). I don't have/know any other specific plans than those right now. If anyone on Fidonet's Disney Echo will happen to be in Orlando and at WDW the first week of December and can make it to WDW December 6th and wants to meet up either in the morning or at noon, please let Rich know. I'd rather do any 'net-meets on December 6th and reserve the rest of our time in Orlando earlier than that to quality time with my husband and son. Our "weakest link" happens to be our toddler who will be 23 months old at the time of our trip, and we have to live within his tolerance and attention span levels, nap times and feeding schedules, etc., so that will limit some freedom of movement and serendipity we'd otherwise normally have. We're also on a super tight budget and will need to do things "on the cheap" in order to afford the trip at all, we're staying off-site, and will be leaving Orlando the morning of Sunday, December 7th. But it will be fun to attach faces to names and meeting others on the computer Disney networks is always a pleasure. So post or E-mail Rich or I care of 1:3828/1.3 or rkoster@calweb.com or ckoster@neosoft.com if you want more information about meeting up. Even though the meets are for EntertainMUCK or rec.arts.disney.parks folks _anyone_ is welcome to come on by, so do please feel encouraged to participate: You're invited! :-) --Carol Koster: CKoster@neosoft.com or Fido c/o Rich Koster 1:3828/1.3 FidoNet Disney Echo Moderator * "We're the Mouseketeers, we wanna say hello, and give three cheers, * "To all of you who see us every day, you're OK, * "So welcome to our Mouseka-club, and by the way, * "While you're here, you're all the guests of the merry Mouseketeers, * "We'd like to introduce ourselves to you * "So proudly put on your Mouseka-ears -- * "It's time to meet, the Mouseketeers!" -Mickey Mouse Club --- April V1.0+ * Origin: The Mouse House of Mickey, Minnie & Meecelet -New Orleans (1:3828/1.3) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 149 DISNEY Ref: EDU00003 Date: 09/23/97 From: STEVEN ACEVEDO Time: 02:33pm \/To: RICH KOSTER (Read 1 times) Subj: Splash Mountain RK>We quickly made our way to Splash Mountain to find the wait under five RK>minutes! (I do so love visiting in the off-season!) There seems to be a RK>new water cannon added since last we looked--just as each log drops into RK>the briar patch, this new pipe jets water all over whatever log may be RK>drifting past, plus anyone standing on the closer bridge. Runoff from his RK>travels down the sidewalks all the way to mid-Frontierland. SWMBO says he RK>signs that say "You May Get Wet" should be changed to say "You Will RK>Definitly Get SPLOOSHED!" I have this to say about Splash Mountain. I was there during August and it took me a half an hour to get on. Hopefully when I go this time it will be much shorter I hope. --- OLX 2.2 TD It's only a hobby ... only a hobby ... only a * Origin: GE999 BBS * The Anime Resource * 718-961-1764 * (1:278/539)