h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

DAY FOUR - MAGIC KINGDOM, FLYING FISH @ BOARDWALK FOR DINNER

CAST:
"Pinky" AKA PrincessAurora - Computer geek, web designer, and Disney Princess Fiend. Already planning next trip to the World.
"The Brain" AKA Captain_Nemo - Applied Mathematics Major, first timer at WDW, trying to put his trust in his "native guide".
(Please note all detailed food reviews are featured as a separate report after Day 8)

We are now approaching our half way mark and still going strong. Today it's sleep in a bit longer, go down to the food court for morning grits and a danish and then it's onto the bus for the Magic Kingdom. Just as a side note: know that it's hard for me to say Magic Kingdom instead of Disneyland which is what I'm use to, California girl that I am, so if I slip, please don't kill me.

OK, taking Mr. Sellinger's advice again it's grab a Fast Pass for Space Mountain and then get in line for Alien Encounter. This ride scared the snot out of me (that's a technical term, BTW) the last time I rode it in 1998 and I've been talking of little else since. We get in line, watch Skippy get french fried and crispy and The Brain is just amused! Amused! Poor little Skippy beamed into space, scorched, fried and then stuck in a transporter for God knows how long and he finds it amusing! OK, this is going to be tough. Now I did my good deed by warning parents with small children that I saw on the buses about this ride. I told them that perhaps one of them might want to screen it first. It seems that I didn't talk to some of the people in line. Now I didn't have any screaming in terror kids in our group but I saw them at other times. Pinky likes this ride for adults if you can deal with mind game scares. It is less scary the second time around. Big score of 9. The Brain says that it wasn't as scary as all the hype led him to believe. He recommends it to people who like this kind of thing but that it will scar small children for life. All around score of 8.

Next it was the Buzz Lightyear ride while waiting for our Fast Pass time on Space Mountain. This is a really fun ride and it is fast loading. We only waited 20 minutes and it was a pretty long line. Pinky did have trouble with her gun (and I shoot for real) and got a weenie score. It was 1 level above the bottom. The Brain protested about how much he sucked on these kinds of games and walked away as a Planetary Pilot with a score of 107,000. This was only 1 below the top level. The Brain finds this to be fun for all ages. He also says to aim first where no one is aiming so you can see your laser easier, this makes it easier to aim at other things. I don't know. Maybe he was trying to make me feel better. Both give this ride an 8.

I usually get sick on Space Mountain without music but since The Brain is into faster, faster, faster - I decide to brave it. This ride is different from Disneyland and not in a good way. In DL the cars seat people across and have high backs so rock music is piped in by your head. When the music is working, I don't get sick. Also there are more things to see (space cookie, etc.). This ride has what I call a modified Matterhorn toboggan sled car. There are 3 seats in a row with no neck support, unless you are really small. This means no music and more whipping around. Also it VERY dark. In my opinion if you can't see the tracks, it makes you more ill and the ride more jarring. I was ill and told Brain he owed me an ice cream sandwich. I give it a 4. The Brain thought that it wasn't as fast as Space Mountain in DL, he didn't like the all dark, didn't see any meteors, glowing balls, thought it started out good but just petered out at the end. Gives it a 6.

Next it was onto The Haunted Mansion. Disneyland people will know that if CA is your primary park and then you go to Florida, the map in your head does not work. Things on the left side of the park primarily are all changed around, there is no New Orleans Square, no Matterhorn, Haunted Mansion is where Big Thunder Ranch should be and Thunder Mountain is where Splash Mountain should be. They have Liberty Square and it messes you up. Use a map. It will save you time. Anyway, we both love Haunted Mansion. The exterior design was different, a bit more castle-like than the antebellum mansion of New Orleans Square but we liked it. The Brain missed the long hallway you pass though to board the doom buggies but saw they added some of those elements later in the ride. We both agreed that the musical score needed to be cranked up as it had gotten muddy and couldn't be heard in some places. I also want to thank the people on this board for clueing me in on when the ride stops for a small bit it's because they are loading someone from a wheelchair, etc. I was able to share this tidbit when the ride stopped twice and now I don't get annoyed at all. I just relax and look for hidden mickies. No worries. Big 8.5's from us both.

Biggest disappointment was that Pirates was down for renovations. This is one of The Brain's favorite rides. He did put in some time pin trading and looking for Mickies with muskets. I thought the Pirate Mickey pin was really neat. Anyway, back to the story.

We went to the Hall of Presidents next. In Disneyland, it's Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln and known for a cool place to take a nap. This exhibit had all the presidents represented. (although I personally find Mr. Clinton much handsomer in person. No jokes of how I know!) All the mannerisms were dead on and it was a very enjoyable presentation. Solid 7's on this one. You can rest your feet and get educated at the same time.

Did the Fast Pass for Jungle Cruise and walked right on. (I am DIGGN' this Fast Pass thing! It's the best thing since sliced bread! Yes, we are walking, and walking. Wave to the poor goobers that are waiting in line for 2 hours and didn't get Fast Pass. Laugh to yourself for being so clever. This can be you next time. Do it!) Back to the ride. This jungle cruise is longer than DL, covers more rivers but uses the same tired jokes. P&B are in agreement that this ride is an excuse for bad puns and having a good boat driver makes or breaks this ride. Our driver was OK but could be better. I think Disney should go back to letting the drivers improv more and put in new jokes. We both give it a 7.

Last was a quick stop by Mickey's Toon Faire. OK, this is REALLY Lame. Toontown at Disneyland is much better! It has interactive things to do (a post office with talking boxes, a street with exploding sounds, talking manhole covers, exploding boxes, etc.) and it also has more rides. Also the houses for Mickey and Minnie in Disneyland were 100% hands-on kid friendly. I was VERY disappointed that when we walked through Mickey's house all the rooms were behind barriers. If you reached too far over, an alarm went off. Yep, The Brain tried to touch the fake TV in Mickey's living room and off went a "Did I win the car, Monty?" alarm. That is NO fun for kids or adults! I remember watching the kids swarm all over Mickey and Minnie's kitchen's in Disneyland, playing with all the things and having a great time. Just looking at "museum displays" of cool things they can't touch is mean. Sorry, it is. The big Faire tent is just a giant store to sell yet more merchandise. Why not put in more rides and cool things for the kids? I know they have some character meet and greet there. Mickey has a movie ranch set at Disneyland behind his house. I just think with ALL the character spots (that are well organized) and ALL the merchandise ALL over the park that they could have used the extra cash and space for making a more magical, interactive, hands-on place for the kids instead of a mall. Pinky is blue about this land and gives it a 3. The Brain is not very impressed either.

Well, now it's time to beat the parade to the entrance, get on the bus and get back to PO for our... you guessed it, nap! Hey, we're old and need our rest. Next it's on the bus for Epcot to get the bus for Boardwalk for our dinner at Flying Fish. Ooops, Pinkie screwed up. There is no bus from Epcot to Boardwalk. You would need to take the bus or boat to DTD and catch the Boardwalk bus. Now we have to run through Epcot to the International Gateway (NO honey! No pins! No time! I'm late, I'm late, I'm late!), catch a boat there to the Boardwalk. This is throwing off my itinerary!! We are going to be late! We're suppose to be there 15 minutes before our PS time! I forgot my confirmation number at the resort! We're going to die!

OK, we didn't die. We got there at 7:00 for 7:00 PS's and waited 20 minutes (that is the longest PS wait we had). This dinner was one of the best and had THE best dessert I ever had in my life. Details coming after Day 8! This restaurant is definitely on the return list. The Brain isn't use to eating at this pace but this is my way of having fun and he's enjoying it a lot! Hey, after our holiday it's back to pasta and potatoes so live a little.

We decided to take the bus to Downtown Disney and transfer there to Port Orleans. Another day but tomorrow we get to sleep in and plot how to take over The World.

Next: Day Five - The Plot reforms, Sailing @ the Poly, DisneyQuest, Fat Tuesday at Port Orleans