Disney Vacation Thoughts: Addendum

This is a continuation of my post here because I remembered I forgot about this on my commute home Thursday evening.

Disney needs to update their hotel rooms. And that surprises me. Usually Disney is on the forefront of the service industry so it’s weird to find them behind on this front. What are they behind on?

Technology.

Disney Vacation Thoughts Round Up

I went on a vacation to Walt Disney World last month and wanted to blog about a few things. There won’t be much rhyme or reason to how I put everything together, so please excuse it.

• It’s time to update the Carousel of Progress. I know people panic every time it’s closed, even just for standard refurbishment, but it’s time. Watching the final scene, it struck me how dated it is. Sarah’s laptop looks so old and clunky. Controlling household items with our voices is reality now and more advanced than the skit lets on. And daughter Trish mentions a car phone. No child is going to know what the heck a car phone is. And I’m pretty sure this was created at a time when car phones were giving way to cell phones, so I’m not sure why it was included in the first place. So, yes, it’s time for a change.
• (Also, it’s totally Sarah’s fault the turkey got burnt, not John’s. She’s the one who programmed the oven and didn’t know that it would respond to any numbers he said. That’s very inconvenient, isn’t it?)
• Can we get something that appeals to picky eaters on the menu? Something beyond rather spicy chicken nuggets, cheeseburgers and hamburgers? Maybe some good salads? Sans cheese or Caesar dressing? Just something that we can order without having to remove nearly everything else. Just…please think of the picky eaters. Please.
• Also a pastry wall in every hotel would be great. Like the one in Pop Century. I love that thing.
• Please work on the bus schedules. I mean, most wait times are pretty good. However, there were a few times where I was definitely waiting longer than 20 minutes for a bus. I waited close to 45 minutes for one to the Magic Kingdom because I had just missed an earlier one. My sister missed the park opening because there was such a long wait between Magic Kingdom buses from Riverside. So maybe see which parks take longer to get to from each hotel and add more buses as needed?
• Does the Frozen ride really deserve such a long wait? (The answer, in my opinion, is no).
• Disney Springs is a mall.
• More places to get milkshakes please. My old place no longer has the machine and I’m sad.
• Also, I think it's time to update the ending video of "The American Adventure." We need to take Lance Armstrong out. 

I think that’s it for now. Just a few suggestions from what was otherwise an enjoyable trip.

Anyone else have suggestions?

Oh, There’s No Place Like Home…

Guess what y’all? We’re going to Sam’s childhood home! We’ll get to meet her family and the places she knows.

Friday afternoon: We’re in Portsmith, New Castle Island, New Hampshire. This is Sam’s hometown. She says she loves coming back though as a teen, she couldn’t wait to leave. And she has teen pictures to share!

One Month to Go!

In exactly one month, my family will be boarding a plane and going to Disney World. Of course, knowing us, we’ll do a majority of the preparation a few days before the flight. And that’s not just because we’re flying so soon after Christmas. That’s just the way my family is, though we’ve already started to consider the clothes we’re going to bring along.

So, while I am not looking forward to going through airport security, I am looking forward to this trip!

Tonight We Dine…

The other day, a co-worker of mine—Joe—told me some startling news. Joe, like me, is a frequent Disney visitor. He and his wife go every November. He called Disney Dining to make reservations for their trip—exactly 90 days from their vacation. But they found out something that had surprised them and he passed it along to me.

Disney had gone back to a 180 day (6 month) window for dining reservations.

When did that change? And why wasn’t there any notice about it?

So, Friday night, my dad and I focused on making our dining reservations. We tried calling, but we were ten minutes too late—the call center shuts down at 10PM EDT/EST. But we did try the Online Booking. And I must say, it was quiet easy. You can search by a park or hotel or you can find a specific place. You can also search for restaurants that are on the dining plan. Next, you select the day you would like and a desired time to make the reservation. The system will then check to see if your time is available. If it isn’t, they will find the next available time closest to your desired one. You can book your reservation then and there and specify if there are any special dietary needs or allergies of which the staff should be warned. They give you a confirmation number to keep with you.

For those who know where and when they want to eat and do not have any questions, I would suggest you use the online booking. It’s easy and quick.

We only made two reservations online—reservations for the Liberty Tree Tavern and for the Whispering Canyon Cafe in the Wilderness Lodge. We would’ve made the others, but we’re trying the Fantasmic package. My father and I felt it wiser to talk to someone for that reservation.

The next morning, I called the Disney Dining Call Center and was quickly connected to a cast member. I told her when we were going to Disney and that we wanted the Fantasmic dining package. The lady was very helpful and we were soon booked for reservations at Hollywood and Vine for the package. The cast member also helped me book the rest of our reservations for the Rose and Crown, San Angel Inn, Cape May Cafe, the Primetime Cafe, and Teppan Edo.

At the very end, I stayed on to take a survey. I felt odd answering the question “How would you rate the service you received?” Because it’s Disney, I always expect excellent service from their employees. And this one was no different.

But seriously—did anyone know that Disney had changed their reservation policy?

On Our Way…Now With a Place to Stay!

See that above? That is the extent of my rhyming ability! Sorry if it’s a bit corny, but Dr. Seuss I am not.

We can check off another step on our path to Disney. On Thursday, my parents and I went down to the travel agency and booked our trip! Though we were considering staying in a moderate resort, after getting estimates, we’ve decided to return to our usual stomping grounds.

That’s right—it’s back to Pop Century for us!

(Building in the 80s at Pop Century)

We are also trying the dining plan this go-round, so expect a review of that from me. Hopefully, they’ve ironed out the wrinkles and the confusion we’ve seen in the past years, when we were the annoyed customers behind the people who couldn’t figure out how to use the plan.

On Our Way…

I’m going to Walt Disney World in January!

And now you’re all heading for the door.

So, for those of you who are staying, here’s how the vacation plans are going:

My father, in true form, has already booked our flights to Orlando and back home. Once again, we’ll be flying JetBlue but won’t be leaving at the crack of dawn, as we usually do. While this means that your favorite non-morning person blogger gets to sleep late, it also means that there is a higher chance of the flight being delayed. It also means that we’ll lose more time in the parks, but it is only day one.

And Epcot does have evening Extra Magical Hours that day.

Where are we staying? We don’t know yet. Since we’re going at off-peak, it means the rates are lower. So we don’t have to stay in Pop Century and can upgrade, if we want. I’m pulling for Port Orleans, either the Riverside or French Quarter side. I don’t know what my parents are considering, but we can’t find anything on the Disney website past December 31, 2010.

What gives Disney?

Stay tuned for more vacation plans!

Culture, Cubans and Cuisine

For Sam’s next great weekend, we travel north of the border to our friendly neighbors!

Bienvenue a Montreal!

Friday afternoon: Sam goes to Paul Patates for Quebecois food. She gets frites avec frommage. And that’s all topped with gravy and washed down with Spruce Beer. Is that like root beer? The patrons tease Sam for how slow she is eating but she is the one who gets a backstage tour to see how the store makes Spruce Beer. Apparently, the recipe goes back to Benjamin Franklin (legend has it) and Sam tries to find the secret. They don’t give it to her, but they do let her help bottle the drink.

To work off all those calories, Sam goes ice skating. She wears socks adorned with the maple leafs. She gets some help with her skates before hitting the rink for some disco ice skating. There are people skating in short sleeves. Seriously? Sam manages to do a twirl and not fall down!

Friday night: Apparently, Montreal is the bachelorette party capital of Canada. I guess they need something if they can’t fly to Vegas, right? Anyway, Sam decides to avoid all the about-to-be-weds and go to the Casa d’Havana, a store full of Cuban cigars. And she’s going to smoke one. Bad, Sam! Well, that’s one store I’ll never go to. I don’t smoke and you can’t bring those back over the border. The owner lights cigars with a blow torch. He advises her not to inhale.

Coming up: CRICKET!

Saturday morning: Sam finds a game of Cricket, a cousin of baseball. It is also highly mesmerizing. It almost made my professor and several of us miss the Tower of London. Sam gets an explanation of the game and I didn’t understand a thing. Neither did Sam, though, so I don’t mind. Sam at bat. Swing and a miss. She tries again. Swing and a miss. Swing and a miss. She hits the next ball, runs, but she’s out. But they applaud her anyway.

Saturday afternoon: From the sports field, Sam hits Montreal’s fashion district. She meets Caroline and Jeffrey, who tell her about Montreal fashion sense. She tries on the “bag dress.” It looks pretty good. I like the pant ensemble Sam tries on next. She makes them repeat their compliment in French before turning the Montreal streets into her person runway.

Next: FOOD!

Saturday night: Sam goes to Joe Beef, named after a Montreal tavern man. He would send people out to gather the drunks and give them a place to sleep it off. Sam says that Joe used to let people work for meals. They let her in the back to shuck oysters. She gets some tips from one of the workers at Joe Beef’s before trying it herself. He tells her she going too small and earning a small steak. Sam blames the oyster; he doesn’t believe her. After she fails, they still let her eat. Sam says she didn’t have to work hard for her meal. The owner says it doesn’t hurt to show up with a camera crew.

Sam then is drawn to the bars. Surprise, surprise. She goes to Hurley’s for some Irish music. As she enjoys a pint, Sam makes friends with some locals. Sam gets pulled on stage, courtesy of her producer. She tries her hand at the drum and is pretty good at it. A round of applause greets her.

Coming up: Dance lessons!

Sunday afternoon: Sam decides to get Burlesque lessons. She learns how to walk properly before getting a boa. Sam finishes off her lesson with a giant feather fan.

Sunday night: Sam goes to the Chinese Botanical Garden to enjoy the annual Magic of Lanterns festival. It is beautiful, celebrating Chinese acrobats.

Montreal looks beautiful. When I went to the Canadian province of Quebec, I went to Quebec City. It is a beautiful city with great history and a mixture of France and Canada, old and new. But Montreal looks like a great place to visit as well.

Quote of the Episode:

“We have two seasons: winter and July.” –Montreal native about the weather. Don’t let them fool you. I went to Quebec twice in May. The weather was beautiful—sweater weather.

 

Orlando: More than Theme Parks!

I have been to Orlando many, many times. Of course, it’s only been to Disney. And then to Church (Vacation is no excuse to miss Mass!). But there’s more to Orlando than Sea World, Universal, Harry Potter and, of course, Disney World. And this episode, Sam is going to discover it!

Friday evening: Sam starts at her hotel, the Grand Bohemian, before going to Winter Park. It takes it’s name because wealthy northerners built their winter homes down there. Sam says it has many bars on the path and heads straight for one—the Wine Room. That’s our Sam! It’s a wine shop and a bar, with a wine tasting selection. Sam gets a prepaid card to try out her wines, which is dispensed in a high tech dispenser that looks more like it should be in Walt Disney World. Sam makes nice with some people in the store, getting free wine from them. They offer her food and she says she’s good…unless she’s passed out on the floor. Sam discovers more friendly people and ribs the men drinking beer. Sam continues to drinking until her card runs out.

Saturday morning: Downtown Orlando is an artist’s haven and Sam goes down to visit Charlie, a glass-blower. He offers lessons in the art and Sam takes one. Charlie has clearly watched the show before because he offers to teach her to make a pint glass. Sam says one common mistake people make is to touch the glass once it comes out of the oven—it’s glowing red, it’s that hot! Sam worries about touching the glass with a wet newspaper, which Charlie calls an old Italian tradition. Charlie says that the city has changed in the past ten years from just bars to “bars and other stuff.” As the continue to make the pint glass and Charlie offers to buy after they are done. I know Sam’s not going to pass that up! The finished product goes in a kiln and Sam takes up Charlie on his offer—once the glass has cooled down.

Coming up: Sam finds home.

Saturday afternoon: Sam heads out to the Winter Park Saturday Farmer’s Market. She hits the free samples, knowing to never turn down free food. She also talks to some of the locals. She also knows the secret to getting more—praise the vendors! She samples all over the place! As she hits landscaping, she goes back for another lap.

After that, Sam hits a shoe boutique, which Sam calls her “home.” Sam goes on a shoe shopping spree. Sam says she used to just have three pairs. I’m not a shoe-aholic, but I even have more than that! And my dad is still boggled. The owner says the residents love the theme parks but they also love having a small, quiet town. Sam makes her selections and leaves the store.

Coming up: Sam finds the heart and soul of Orlando.

Saturday evening: Sam heads back to the bars, with Charlie. He brings her to NV. By day, it’s a photography studio run by Stephanie. By night, it’s a popular bar. Sam says she had no idea there were people who lived in Orlando. The locals say they get that a lot. Sam gets to drink out of the glass she made with Charlie that morning.

Sunday morning: Sam hits Johnson’s for breakfast. It’s a soul food diner and a Orlando institution, according to Sam. The regulars and the staff welcome Sam to the diner. She meets Clarence Taylor, the third generation to own the diner. He says everyone comes there and you can find both Bentleys and shopping carts in their parking lot. Clarence says he can’t change the menu and if dishes don’t taste like how his mother made it, customers will tell him. Sam enjoys her meal and thanks Clarence.

Coming up: Sam gets a thrill.

Wow. It looks like Era hasn’t filmed a new commercial since the late 80s, early 90s the latest.

Sunday afternoon: Sam is all digested and heads to get a thrill, but not in the theme parks. She suits up, puts on a helmet and heads to a wind tunnel for indoor skydiving. Now that’s my idea of skydiving—no planes and jumping from heights involved. And there’s a mesh net, not hard ground, below!

And thus ends Sam’s trip to the “hidden” Orlando. Will I stray outside the walls of Disney World when I go in January? Considering I’ve never been to Universal, probably not. It’ll once again be Disney and Church. But maybe one day.

Exchange of the Episode:

“You know you’re at a wine bar.”

“But there’s still beer.” –Sam and a guy who was probably dragged to the Wine Room by his girlfriend/wife.

Staten Island: Come and Visit!

Since Sam Brown took us on a tour of her home borough in my last post, I’ve decided to take you around my home borough this one.

So, hop off the Staten Island Ferry and actually dare to wander out of the St. George Terminal for a Weekend in Staten Island!

Friday evening: Here in the summer, the best way to spend your Friday night is at the ballgame! Right next to the ferry terminal is the Richmond County Savings Bank Ball Park, home of the Staten Island Yankees. The Baby Bombers are the minor league team of the New York Yankees and uphold their major league counterpart’s championship tradition. There are no bad seats in the stadium and allows for a great view of the New York skyline and New York Harbor. For less than $20, you can go see a great ballgame. And, win or lose, Friday nights usually end with a fireworks display.

Note: Public transportation on Staten Island is not as good as the other boroughs and we recently suffered cutbacks. Where I live, we only have about two buses that run out here. It’s advised that if you don’t have your own car, you rent one.

Saturday morning: Staten Island is just that—an island. Go enjoy the morning down by the beach—South Beach! Enjoy the view of the Narrows and the Atlantic Ocean as well as the Verrazano Bridge. There are several diners scattered throughout Staten Island, most of them owned by Mike. They are opened 24/7 and just as good for breakfast or lunch as for a late night snack.

Late Saturday morning/Saturday afternoon: Around Staten Island are several cultural and historical things waiting for you to discover. There is the grounds at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center. There the botanical gardens, museums and performances to be found in this center. If you are traveling with children, there is also a Children’s Museum on premises that always provided my friends and I with days of fun. There is the Alice Austen house. Austen was a photographer at the turn of the century who captured New York City as it grew into a modern metropolis. Her house on Staten Island is preserved and houses many of her pictures.

A recommendation for lunch is DeNino’s Tavern for some pizza. Sure Brooklyn has all the well-known pizzerias. But you know what happens to Brooklynites? They move to Staten Island and open more pizzerias! DeNino’s is well known throughout the Island, especially for how thin their pizzas are. I had a slice from there and it was delicious!

Moving down the cultural highlights of Staten Island, there is also Historic Richmondtown. This was the location of the original settlements on Staten Island and now is a collection of houses between 100 to 300 years old. Most were moved from their original locations to the town. Tours are available as well as the ability to just wander through town. While driving along Arthur Kill Road, be sure to stop in to Holtermann’s. Their baked goods are sold in many stores, but the main bakery is here on Staten Island. I get my birthday cake from there every year and my family loves to pick up their cupcakes. Pick up a delicious snack as you continue down the Island.

The last stop in the tour of Staten Island’s history is the Conference House Park, a personal decision of mine since I volunteer there. The house is the oldest stone manor house in New York City and the site of the oft-forgotten Staten Island Peace Conference held on September 11, 1776. The house is open for tours on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays between 1 and 4 PM. The Conference House itself isn’t the only reason to visit the park. There are several other historic houses on property—not yet open to the public, but we have no problems with people peeking in the windows! There is also a gazebo that looks out over the Raritan Bay and on a clear summer day, it is a beautiful sight. You can also walk along the beach and kick around in the surf. You may also find the South Pole, marking the southern most point in the State of New York.

Saturday night: Time for dinner, right? After all that, you’re probably starving. My suggestion for a good meal is to eat at the Marina Cafe in Great Kills. It sits on the water and my mother has eaten there with colleagues many times. You can sit outside (if the weather permits) or inside and enjoy a great meal for reasonable prices. Try to hold off from ordering dessert because I am sending you to a Staten Island institution—Egger’s Ice Cream Parlor (namely the one on Hylan Blvd by Tysen’s Lane). I went there after I graduated from high school to celebrate, even if chocolate ice cream and a white dress wasn’t such a good combination. At some point, Staten Islanders have flocked to the store for some delicious ice cream and is a highlight.

Sunday morning: Staten Island is about 85% Catholic, but I don’t know the percentage of those that are practicing. Either way, areas around churches will be slightly crowded with Sunday church-goers. It might be best to have breakfast in your hotel before venturing out for the day.

For the rest of Sunday, I advise you discover why they call us “the Borough of Parks.” There’s Wolfe’s Pond Park in Prince’s Bay. Lemon Creek Park or Blue Heron Park. There’s Gateway in Great Kills. But I would suggest Clove Lakes Park. My high school track team had practice there during the cross-country season and ran two cross-country races there every year (The Wagner Invitational and Championships). There are several paths to walk, pass the Clove Lakes and Martling Pond. You can find the trails we use for cross-country and walk deeper into the woods, though be careful by Royal Oak as those are often used as soccer fields.

Also located in Clove Lakes Park is the Staten Island Zoo. While it might not be as famous or as grand as the Bronx Zoo or the Central Park Zoo, it still can delight all ages. When I was younger, they used to let the peacocks roam free. I am not sure if they still allow it, but it is pretty awesome. Another attraction at the Staten Island Zoo besides the petting zoo is Charles G. Hogg, better known as “Staten Island Chuck.” Every Groundhog’s Day, he comes out of his little home to predict whether we’ll have an early spring or six more weeks of winter. While his predictions have been off the past few years, he still has a better track record than a more famous groundhog who shall remain nameless.

As the sun sets once again on our island, I hope you enjoyed your little tour of what Staten Island has to offer. Come by and see us!

Fun Fact: Brooklyn is the Fifth Largest City in the US!

This episode, Sam comes close to my home sweet home—she visits the next borough over: Brooklyn!

How sweet it is!

Sam apparently lives in Brooklyn as well.

Friday afternoon: Sam hits Coney Island. I’m going to do the Cyclone one of these days. No matter how rickety and old and ready to collapse it is. Sam goes to visit Nathan’s to have her first Nathan’s hot dog. Really? After my grandmother’s funeral, my great-aunt stopped at Nathan’s to have a “dawg” in her honor. And yes, that is actually how we say it. It’s not gangsta or imitating Randy Jackson. It’s just how New Yorkers talk. Sam then visits an old fashion freak show. She gets to admire a real handle-bar mustache. He responds he always wanted to tie a woman to the railroad tracks. Awesome. He puts a nail in his nose and…eww…I can’t watch. I can’t. He’s followed by a snake dancer (no, not Britney) and a sword swallower. Madame Electra is called to the stage. Turns out—it’s Sam. He puts Sam in an electric chair. And of course everyone wants her to get zapped. Sam is able to light up a light bulb and ignite a torch. Sam worries about her hair around open flames. She takes a bow as the crowd goes wild.

Coming up: She offends a Brooklynite. Quick! Troll the East River!

Saturday morning: Sam heads down under the Manhattan Bridge to DUMBO, a place for the bohemians. She meets Tom, an artist who makes art from trash. And ladies and gentlemen, the reason I dislike modern art immensely. Sam helps him collect trash from the streets. Not so hard in New York, honestly. Sam finds a hat and Tom says they always do photoshoots in DUMBO because of the view of the city. Sam decides to go get a pizza from Grimaldi’s. I’ve heard some very good things about this parlor. Right now, I’ll stick to my pizza places in Staten Island. After all, we’re where all the Brooklynites come anyway! Especially since Grimaldi’s comes with an hour’s wait. Sam makes nice with some girls who have a picnic basket—and sanitary wipes. Sam says she never uses a fork and knife on pizza. Don’t get one in Italy, then, as they don’t eat pizza with their hands. She and Tom enjoy their pizza and beer.

Coming up: Sam shares some of her secrets.

Saturday afternoon: Sam goes shopping in Park Slope. She goes to Flight 001 for travel goods. She shows some of the great products—including a book for you to point things you want to people in other countries. I think I need to hit that store before my next major trip. She then goes to Cobble Hill for desserts! At One Girl--Where the cookies are named after girls! Two little girls ask for lemon cookies and are adorable. Sam talks about the property costs in Brooklyn as she walks around Brooklyn Heights, the swanky neighborhood. And I’ll tell you—it is. Sam points out Arthur Miller’s brownstone, the house Truman Capote wrote “In Cold Blood” and “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” Sam then goes to her favorite bar with her friends. They talk about alternate side of the street parking. Guess what Staten Island doesn’t have? Alternate side of the street parking. It’s heavenly.

Coming up: Dog park! And Sam’s boyfriend? Really? We get to see what he looks like?

Sunday morning: Sam goes to her favorite park, Prospect Park. Which includes hours that dog owners can let their dogs run free. Sam talks to someone who runs a doggie day care as she yells for them. Sam helps leash some of the dogs.

Sunday afternoon: Sam and husband Kevin go on a dinner date at The River Cafe. They are on Fulton Street, facing Fulton Street. He’s the Brooklynite, born and raised. He seems great. And as they end with dessert, my DVR stopped recording.

C’est la vie!

Many people forget that New York City is made up of more than just Manhattan. The other four boroughs have a lot to offer, if you know where to look and how to find it. Often, it takes meeting a native to know how to do that. And believe it or not, so get off Manhattan and visit the outer boroughs!

Islands of Cape Cod

There once was a Sam who visited Nantucket…and she loved it! Then she went to Martha’s Vineyard…and didn’t know who to give the reward!

Phew.

Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket are New England island vacation spots and therefore rivals. Sam approaches Martha’s Vineyard via boat, saying that is the larger of the two islands. She is dropped off by an old Methodist ground, filled with dollhouses. It’s a bit creepy. A family welcomes her on to their porch. They let her in and it looks like a dollhouse on the inside. These houses were built from the tents the Methodists used to stay in for their summer revival meetings. Sam asks the owner about Nantucket, and he recalls how during the 60s, the people in Nantucket used to meet the people coming off the boats. If they looked like hippies and didn’t have a place to stay, they were sent back on the boat.

Sam goes to a local ice cream store which sells…lobster ice cream. Eww. And there are real chunks of lobster in it. Sam tries it and has to chew it a bit. Sam then hops in a car to catch the sunset at the Outermost Inn. It had an exquisite view and Sam enjoys it while she chows down.

Sam wonders what they are doing in Nantucket.

Coming up: Wind-surfing goes wrong and Sam jumps to Nantucket.

Saturday morning: Sam decides to forgo the popular beaches to go visiting inland. She visits a farm along with several children who are learning about farm work. Sam gets to milk a goat before hitching a ride on a trailer. She talks with some of the children on the trailer as they head to feed the cows. After that, Sam goes to learn how to wind surf. Sam asks for her producer to see why they thought she could learn it in an hour. They put Sam out in the water and she wipes out. She wonders if they shot a scene from Jaws in this lagoon as they play a variation of the Jaws theme. The instructor confirms sharks could swim into the waters by Martha’s Vineyard and the fear keeps Sam on her board.

Next: Trash talking in Nantucket!

Saturday afternoon: Sam travels via ferry to Nantucket or the “Gray Lady” because of the fog that shrouds the island. After passing yachts, she starts with a cocktail (that’s our Sam!) at White Elephant Hotel before getting a tour of the yachts. Sam says that there is a tradition where when people pass a lighthouse, they throw in a penny for a safe return. Sam jokes that that is something she can afford on Nantucket. Meanwhile, her captain takes her clamming. He says they will be gathering quahogs (like Quahog, setting of Family Guy). Sam uses her feet and manages to pick a few clams. Sam mentions that all of Nantucket’s beaches are open to the public.

Sam heads back to the island for a clam bake, which is forced into a garage due to a storm. Sam enjoys a clam bar before going down to see the clam bake down on the beach. As music plays, everyone enjoys their seafood dinner. Sam sits down and talks with some of the locals. One says she likes living on the island, thirty miles away from land. Sam watches the Nantucket sunset, which is gorgeous.

Coming up: Nantucket v. Martha’s Vineyard

Sunday morning: Sam walks along the beach and talks about Moby Dick. She meets Chuck, who takes her out on a boat. He talks about the whaling industry. Sam asks him about Martha’s Vineyard and he says nothing. It doesn’t exist. He says that they (Martha’s Vineyard) gets the movie stars while Nantucket gets the CEOs.

Back on shore, Sam goes biking through a small town that looks more England than New England. Mark Donato takes Sam around Nantucket. She says she tries to never use the words “quaint” and “picturesque” but Nantucket forces her to use it. Mark says that the difference between people from Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard is that Nantucket folk have all their teeth. He reveals that there is a big football game between the two islands and Sam deduces that the rivalry is all sparked from high school football. As most great rivalries are indeed sports related. See: Yankees, New York and Red Sox, Boston.

As another storm drenches Nantucket, Sam decides to put her umbrella to good use and go shopping. She describes Nantucket’s style as preppy and bright-colored. She goes to visit Cheryl Fudge, who owns a store on Nantucket and lets customers try their hand at designing. Cheryl shows Sam how they do that and it looks like alcohol is served. Sam’s set. She picks pink tee and designs her own souvenir shirt.

Decisions, decisions, decisions! Nantucket or Martha’s Vineyard? She loved them both!

Now this is better! This is a weekend normal people could actually do, rather than the last episode I recapped which had her spend a weekend with a traveling circus. While both islands had the reputation of being the playground of the rich and famous, both seem to have much to offer for a weekend getaway. I would like to go to either or!

Quotes of the Episode:

“I seem to have wandered onto the pages of a well-illustrated children’s book.”—Sam, about her first stop on Martha’s Vineyard.

“We used to slay whales, now we just slay the stock market.”—Sam, about the type of people who visit Nantucket.

Big Top Samantha!

Sam tells us that she’s going back to her childhood and waits for her ride. And it’s a truck? A circus truck? She’s spending her weekend with a traveling circus. Okay.

Can a normal person actually do this?

Anyway, she’s in San Jose with the Circus Vargas, a family circus traveling around California. Sam asks if there was a time he didn’t want to be in the circus and he says “no.” They will be staying in a mall parking lot, where the Big Top will be set up. They let Sam drive the truck before breaking out the forklifts and hard hats. She hits the “go” button and the tent rises like dough. She is informed the tent is from Italy. One of the people helping Sam is also a trapeze artists and he shows off his muscles. Sam meets Nelson, the circus owner, as she continues to finish setting up the tent. Nelson reveals the construction crew, like the trapeze artist, are all in the circus. And all seem to be related to him either by blood or by marriage. Sam commiserates about having to live with the people she works with and asks to borrow the sledgehammer. You know there’s a tech somewhere off camera shaking his of her head.

It’s Saturday and the tent is finally set up. She goes to get dolled up for a circus parade at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. Sam kicks out the camera crew before emerging dressed for a parade. Santa Cruz is a top surfing spot and is one of the oldest Boardwalk amusement park in Cali. So the circus performers go out, get people hula-hooping. She finds the trapeze artist, watching and eating ice cream. But it’s not all work and no play as the performers hit some rides.

Next: She flies through the air with the greatest of ease, the high-flying Sam on the flying trapeze…

Saturday afternoon in San Jose. Sam begins her training with the Lyra. The performer, Danielle, says you can use your dancing skills with this act. She herself is a former dancer who has been performing with the circus for years. She teaches Sam some moves on the Lyra. Sam isn’t so graceful when she tries to right herself from the pose. She trains how to fall properly with Nelson. He tells her to land on her back for safety but she doesn’t need to practice. It’s only falling. He gets her in a harness for the trapeze. Tense music plays as Sam tries to get out of doing it. She even offers to buy everyone beer. That’s our Sam! The others refuse, saying they don’t drink. Sam knows she’ll need one. But she takes the leap and swings through the air, lets go and lands on her stomach. She knows that isn’t how she was supposed to land.

Next: Sam the Swami meets Sam the Chicken.

Saturday evening. Sam decides to get down with (funny) business with Circus Vargas’ head clown. She gets the makeup on as the clown says he really feels it when the nose comes on. They stick a red nose on her and reveal what she looks like while it sounds like “76 Trombones” from “The Music Man” plays. She asks for a cream pie and they love that she’s in character. “No, I’m just hungry” she says. The crowds arrive and the MC welcomes them to the Circus Vargas. We see Danielle and the Lyra as Sam prepares to enter with the clowns. They entertain the crowds, pulling some victims from the audience. She manages to get applause.

Sunday morning. Sam practices the trapeze again, but she won’t have a safety rope that night. Louis helps her out of the harness as Sam gets some tips. She prepares to jump off the platforms and has a panic attack. She talcs up her hands, getting a pep talk. She leaves the platform and flies, this time remembering to land on her back. You know, I have to give her credit. I couldn’t never do that. I’m too scared of heights to even get up on the platform, let alone to fly the trapeze.

Coming up: The final performance!

Sunday evening. It is Circus Vargas’ final performance in San Jose. As the family performs, Sam worries she may not be able to do the trapeze. She gets dressed in her costume as we see Danielle one last time on the Lyra. Sam reminds herself to smile, to show the audience she is having fun. The MC introduces the flying trapeze artists, who perform stunts that elicit gasps of delight from the crowd. Sam stands on the platform, looking pretty until her turn. She grabs the trapeze and flies. After a few swings, se lands with a bounce in the net. She takes a bow with the others as the evening draws to a close. The family tells her the next time, she’ll do some somersaults in the air. She agrees.

The episode ends with Sam flying in the Lyra, voicing over how she was glad to live out her dreams of running away with the circus.

But the question begs to be asked: Can a normal person looking for a weekend getaway just book a trip with a local traveling circus? Do they allow the average Joe to perform with them? One of the things I like about Sam’s show is that while she is granting special privileges because she has a camera crew, she goes places and does things that anyone can do in a weekend. While watching Sam perform with the circus was fun, I would’ve rather her take me around San Jose, show what the city has to offer.

Quote of the Episode
“I’m just hoping the nose gives me powers I need to make people smile.”—Sam, before her circus debut.

In Search of America(na)

It’s summer and you know what that means! It’s time for me to return to Samantha Brown’s escapades crammed into one weekend.

We start with Samantha in a red convertible driving a road. She’s driving Route 66 to find the America immortalized in the memories of the post-war generation and “Cars.”

If you ever plan to motor West/Travel my way, that’s the highway that’s the best/Get your kicks on Route Sixty-Six

Albuquerque, New Mexico. Horns go off everywhere. One is even the wolf-whistle. It’s a classic car club. This one included an Edsel, the legendary lemon produced by Ford. She gets the red convertible we saw in the cold open. She hits the road, leading a parade of classic cars, heading west from Albuquerque. She first stops at the Route 66 Hostel where a band welcomes her. They jump into the car with their instruments—including an upright bass—and we meet Felix and the Cats. Felix is the one playing the guitar. The other two are the cats. She drops the Cats off in a random parking lot. I guess they have to walk back?

It winds from Chicago to LA/More than two thousand miles along the way/Get your kicks on Route Sixty-Six

Route 66 was built in 1926 and spans from Chicago to LA. She leave Albuquerque and enjoys the wind in her hair. She says Route 66 is still mostly intact between New Mexico and Arizona, complete with gorgeous scenery. She stops in Gallup, “the Indian Cultural Center of the Southwest.” She wants to find a wacky hotel and El Rancho answers her call. Many Hollywood actors stayed there while filming the Westerns. And she first checks out the neon in Gallup. Remember the scene in “Cars” where Radiator Springs lights up? That’s this looks like.

Coming up: Birds!

Now you go through St. Louis/Joplin, Missouri/And Oklahoma City is might pretty

Saturday morning, Sam hits Route 66 and prepares to enter the state of Arizona. She’s like me—randomly shouting “train!” as one chugs along behind her. She enters Holbrook and says the roadside attactions look like a nuclear war zone, meaning it’s a good stop. She wonders if she can pet the ostrich as the camera pans to a giant sign reading “Caution: Ostrich Bite.” So she opts to feeding them before going to eat some eggs for breakfast. Ostrich eggs that is. She feeds some people before continuing along down Route 66. She promises us the strangest thing on Route 66. And a giant car designed to look like it belongs in Cars as a performance artist car. The owner, John, runs a diner in Seligman with his sister Christine. Their dad, the original owner, was a big practical joker, noted by the fact that the door handle marked “pull” doesn’t work. She asks for a shake and the two hold out their hands. After some other jokes, Sam jumps behind the counter to serve some customers.

Coming up: Donkeys and Sam shoots the sheriff (but not the deputy).

You see Amarillo/Gallup, New Mexico/Flagstaff, Arizona/Don’t forget Winona/Kingman/Barstow/San Bernandino

Sam hops back into her car and continues to drive Route 66. Sam wonders what she should name her car. She doesn’t know if the car should have a female name or a male name, pondering this while eating a Snowball. She decides to name it after the sugary sweet. She’s driven 500 miles and I noticed her rearview mirror decoration has changed. It’s gone from a dwarf to a dream catcher.

She stops in Cool Springs, population: Gas Station. The gas station no longer provides gas, probably because of all the changes made to gas formulas throughout the years, but it’s store still operates! Sam gets a soda, pulls up a seat and enjoys the view. She feels as if time has stopped because she could be in any era. She gets back in the car, where her rearview mirror decoration is again a dwarf. She takes the dwarf down and decides to put out a hula girl. She hits a treacherous part of Route 66. She says it has to do with the turns but I’m sure the fact it seems the road hasn’t seen a paver in decades has something to do with it as well. She even spots the remains of cars who didn’t survive the trek.

She arrives in Oatman, a living ghost town. Bwah? There are still burros in town, who come down to get carrots. And people give them because, hey, they’re adorable. She joins a bunch of people to witness a gunfight in the center of town. The troupe pulls out our own Annie Oakley. She shoots and the cowboys fall down. She leaves the town and Route 66 as well. She picks up Interstate 40 and says she has a big Hollywood finale planned for the ending of her Route 66 road trip.

Coming up: Cliff diving?

Won’t you get hip to this timely tip?/When you take that California trip/Get your kicks on Route Sixty-Six

Deer! Sam arrives at a national park. At a quarter to 5 AM. Eww. I usually don’t like to acknowledge that time exists. She and a bunch of early morning birds watch the sun rise over the Grand Canyon. Sam then jumps into a helicopter. Her pilot says the park spans the entire area of Switzerland. He then asks her if she wants to jump off a cliff and takes her over the Canyon. They see the Colorado River from the air. The pilot says it’s one of the natural formations viewable from space. I don’t think you can see anything from space except the continents, but okay.

Sam and Snowball drive to their goodbye point, with fluffy white dice now dangling from her rearview mirror. She says goodbye and leaves the car…And then my DVR cut out. Sorry guys!

It’s great to be back with Samantha Brown and her trips. You might notice she didn’t have a single alcoholic beverage this trip, something I know I make a running gag of her alcoholism in the other episodes. I assume it is her being a conscientious driver and not drinking because she is behind the wheel. Either way, it was a fun ride and gives me ideas. Maybe not Route 66—that sounds like something my dad would do. I’m not one to stay in a car that long!

Moment of the Episode:

The expression on the French tourists faces when John and Christine pull some pranks in Seligman.

Get your kicks on Route Sixty-Six

Magical Times in the Kingdom

Everyone has the one thing they do on their first day in Disney World. Most people head straight to the Magic Kingdom. My family is no different.

Nothing screams “DISNEY!” more than walking down Main Street, USA and watching Cinderella’s castle get closer and closer. We turned off to get to Tomorrowland, coming out close to Monsters, Inc. After fastpassing Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, we decided to go get lunch at Cosmic Ray’s. Unfortunately, everyone else was in Cosmic Ray’s as well. My father and I scoured the main room for seats but we ended up on a side room, away from the alien entertainment.

We finished and started our rounds around Tomorrowland, eventually ending up on the Carousel of Progress. As we made our way through the 20th century, our tour of human progress was constantly interrupted. A cast member’s voice kept telling us to remain seated for our own safety. As the warnings kept going into the 1920s, I pondered something: If the cast members could tell someone was standing, couldn’t they go into the theater and remove the guilty party? We slid into the 40s, but the theater didn’t lock all the way and the lights came on. When the scene ended, the theater didn’t move and we ended up hearing about the “Fabulous Forties” ALL over again. By the third go around, a cast member came to rescue us. As we poured out of the theater, we were handed “good any time” fast passes. The vacation was off to a sweet start, even if it was raining.

The day progressed and night had fallen. We started to wind down in the Magic Kingdom and rode Splash Mountain. We boarded our log and headed for the hill that would drop us into the first scene. And we hit what I call a “boat backup.” This is a common occurrence in Disney World, particularly as you approach the load/unload section. However, this boat backup occurred just before the drop into the first scene. One this early usually means that they’ve stopped the load in process in order to get a wheelchair-bound person into the log. The minutes ticked by. Eventually a cast member came up and counted the logs before disappearing behind an entryway. Another cast member arrived to start entertaining us. A guy in another log gave him drink orders, including “beers and milk for the children.”

Twenty minutes of sitting later, the ride began moving again. We finished the ride and as we disembarked, we got another set of “good any time” fast passes! Our vacation was off to a good start!

REVIEW TIME!

As always, Disney is constantly changing. Both the Haunted Mansion and the Hall of Presidents went through some overhauls. They changed the hall of portraits in the Haunted Mansion; the eyes now longer follow you but turn into eerie incarnations as lightning flashes. Another room, as you climb the stairs, has been turned into Escher’s staircase. The bride with the beating heart in the attic has been given a back story. She is a woman who has married at least five times and been widowed all times—her husbands meet tragic ends. The other new additions are in the graveyard scene, where more ghouls romp around to the tune of “Grin Grinning Ghosts.”

The Hall of Presidents was not only altered to add Barack Obama in the final scene, but Disney also changed the preceding movie. Narrated by Morgan Freeman, they recount how George Washington (voiced by David Morse) refused to be king and then set the most important precedent—he left office. Next moves onto Andrew Jackson, a man who rose to the presidency and wasn’t an aristocrat like the six preceding presidents. His wild inauguration in which the populace stormed the White House is recalled before the movie moves on to Abraham Lincoln. Naturally, the Civil War is discussed and the audio-animatronic figure of Lincoln comes out to recite the Gettysburg Address (in Royal Dano’s voice).

In the past, the movie usually ended with Lincoln and talked about the 20th century in vague terms. Now, though, they discuss Teddy Roosevelt and how he just called the presidential mansion “The White House.” He is followed by his cousin, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and how he overcame polio. Disney plays some of his fireside chats as well as reads excerpts from letters written to the president by American citizens. John F. Kennedy finishes the individual retrospections, the film mentions the different movements in the 60s—Women’s Lib, the Civil Rights, etc. The movie shows clips of the presidential speeches given at times of tragedy: Johnson’s address to Congress after Kennedy’s assassination, Reagan’s address to the nation after the Challenger explosion, Clinton’s address to the victims of the Oklahoma City bombing and Dubya’s address to the first responders and workers at Ground Zero after September 11th.

After the roll call of presidents, Washington stands and says a few words before Obama takes the Oath of Office. He gives a speech about liberty and the future before the show ends with a rousing chorus of “America the Beautiful.”

I prefer this new version of the Hall of Presidents. I never understood why the old film ended with Abraham Lincoln and didn’t go past. If I was a foreigner watching this video, I would think the last great American president was in 1865! The presidents they focus on were great leaders—both Roosevelts and Kennedy. If you don’t leave the Hall of Presidents wanting to wave a flag and hum “Stars and Stripes Forever,” check your pulse. You might be dead.

RING THE DINNER BELL!

Our first night there, we ate at the Liberty Tree Tavern in Liberty Square. The menu is preset. The first course is a salad covered in a strawberry vinaigrette dressing. As my mother is allergic to strawberries, we were given a salad with just oil and vinegar. There is also my favorite part of the meal—the bread and butter. I do not know what type of butter they use at the Liberty Tree Tavern but it is the most delicious I have ever eaten. I often have to stop myself or else I’d fill up on bread and butter alone!

The next course is the main one. Ham, turkey and London broil are placed before you to choose which you want. It is accompanied by steamed carrots, string beans, mashed potatoes, stuffing and gravy. Seconds can be requested if you haven’t eaten your fill. This time, I found the turkey to be a bit dry, but gravy fixed that up. The potatoes and stuffing were delicious.

The last course is dessert—a delicious apple crisp, complete with ice cream. No matter how much you’ve loaded on the other courses, there is always room for this sweet treat.

This is a definite place to put on your reservation list.

A note of warning about the Magic Kingdom: It is always the most crowded park, so go in prepared to deal with crowds and toddlers. Learn to avoid the stroller brigade and how to weave effectively.

Adventures in Arriving

So, in my last entry, I wrote about how we found out the day before we left for our vacation that our flight had been bumped up an hour. So, we were all up and ready by 5:30 am Wednesday morning. That is a full hour before I even wake up for work on a regular day! We were all ready but the car wasn’t. We had to give them a call since they are usually prompt and they had a car to us within fifteen minutes.

Our driver got us to Newark and my mom arranged for a car to pick us up when we returned in fifteen days. We raced through the terminal to the Continental domestic flight check-in area and discovered the first line of our Disney trip. Fortunately, the people at Continental moved us along. Baggage check-in was automated and everything moved quickly. We got our gate and eventually made it there with ten minutes to spare before they started boarding our plane.

We were unable to get four seats next to each other, so we were separated into pairs. My sister and I boarded the plane first and quickly found our seats. I was slightly disappointed to see I was sitting on the aisle—I ALWAYS get a window seat. Even when I went to London, I still managed to swing a window seat. We were settling in when a commotion was raised by another passenger. He demanded to sit next to his two small children. The Continental flight attendants were accommodating and people began to shift their seats around. In the shuffle, I ended up sitting in a window seat next to my mom because the passenger assigned to that seat needed to sit on the aisle due to a broken arm.

My mom later teased me because I ended up sleeping the entire flight, so she didn’t see the point for me to have a window seat. As for the passenger who wanted to sit next to his children, turns out he only had ONE child and was trying to angle a seat for his wife. The flight attendant managed to get him next to his child but refused to do anything else after discovering his dishonesty.

We arrived in Orlando and thus began the Quest for the Boarding Pass. Our boarding passes held our baggage claim numbers and mine had disappeared. I swore my mom had taken it when I moved to my new seat. She swore she didn’t have it. I checked my bag but it seemed lost to the ages. So I now had to get a lecture in responsibility while we dashed for the monorail.

In the end, the Quest for the Boarding Pass was in vain because we didn’t need our claim numbers. We had signed up for Disney’s Magical Express. A cast member would collect our baggage, signified by a yellow tag, and deliver it to our rooms for us. We just needed to find our bus to Pop Century and begin to relax.

Check-in was a breeze, though our rooms weren’t ready yet. However, Disney promised to send us a text message with our room numbers when they were. So, we dropped off our carry on items at baggage assistance. They would bring them to our room with our luggage.

We were free to begin our adventure in the park.

Disney pampering is the best pampering in the whole world.

PS: My missing boarding pass was found that night. My mother DID have it the entire time. She just put it away separately from the others.

1 Day to Go: OH MY GOD IT'S TOMORROW!

My original plan was to countdown the days with a post. Unfortunately, some problems with my RAM lead to a battle between me and Blogger. So, here we are--the day before the trip. Here's a rundown of the days leading up to today...

Friday: my mom and I went to the mall to pick up some last minute items for the trip. Call me a Last-Minute Lucy, but I finally got around to buying some new bathing suits. (One's incredibly cute too!) Of course, everything was clearance so while the prices were reasonable (for the most part), it was a bit of a search for matching sets. I also purchased some new shirts and shorts.

Saturday: I did the last of my pre-trip laundry, shoving various denim clothing and shirts into the washer and dryer.

Sunday: After coming back from a family reunion barbecue, I pulled out all the clothes I wanted to bring with me to Disney. I also dug in my closet to pull out my red crocs. When I went to actually pack the stuff, though, I discovered my sister didn't empty it from our trip up to the Middle of Nowhere, NY, to visit our cousin.

Monday: I got my sister to empty the luggage and then proceeded to pack my stuff, including iPod charger and other items. I continued to my sister's laundry as she complained I had already taken up three-fourths of the luggage.

Today: I was in for a shock when my dad texted me during my lunch break. Turns out our 9 AM flight on Continental leaving Newark bound for Orlando was now leaving at 7:50 AM from Newark. That means I'll have to be up tomorrow at 5:00 to leave the house at 5:30 rather than 6:00 to leave at 6:30. Eww. I then spent the afternoon showing various coworkers all the tasks I perform at work (and I didn't realize how much I actually did until then. Wow) before my super-awesome manager let me go 45 minutes early. We finished packing and all I have to do is pack my carry on.

So tomorrow I'll be in Disney. We're bringing my laptop for my mom to use, so I'll have some internet access. Hopefully I'll be able to keep you up-to-date and include pictures!

42 Days to Go: Michael Jackson

It's a surprise--Michael Jackson died today. He played a part in Disney history.

Prior to "Honey, I Shrunk the Audience," another 3-D spectacular played at Epcot. It was called "Captain Eo" and starred Jackson as a bumbling space pilot sent on a diplomatic mission. It was corny but it had a great soundtrack. And some signature Jackson moves from the Thriller era.

Enjoy his performance, courtesy of YouTube.

Part I

Part II

43 Days to Go: Common Courtesy (Sidewalks)

So, you've spent a lot of money to go to Disney? Well, so did every other person in the park, so please remember that your manners are not also on vacation. Some common courtesies everyone should remember:

-Though for the most part Disney has wide sidewalks, that is not an open invitation for your party to take up the entire space. Please remember to keep to the right.

-Try to give a bit more berth to those with strollers. However, if you are one with a stroller, that doesn't mean you now have free range of the sidewalks.

-If you use an electronic scooter, please learn how to operate it--for your safety and the safety of others.

44 Days to Go: Top 5 List

Top 5 Attractions in Hollywood Studios

5. MuppetVision 3D

4. Great Movie Ride

3. Tower of Terror

2. Star Tours

1. Rock-n-Roller Coaster

Honorable Mention: None, really. It's too small a park.